Lie about your criminal cases, face disqualification: Supreme Court to lawmakers

"Non-disclosure of criminal antecedents amounts to corrupt practice by the candidates. The crucial recognized ideal which is required to be realised is eradication of criminalisation of politics and corruption in public life,” said the court order headed Justice Dipak Misra.

The court issued the order in connection with a 2006 case seeking the nullification of a panchayat member in Coimbatore by the Madras High Court.

The HC found him guilty of not disclosing pending criminal cases against him while filing nomination papers for elections. The panchayat member had moved the top court, challenging the order. 

In 2013, the top court had ruled that elected lawmakers would be disqualified to contest election if convicted by a court and sentenced to two years of at least imprisonment.

AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa had to resign as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in September 2014 after she was found guilty in the disproportionate assets case.