Bihar polls: HC seeks list of criminals

In a bid to keep away absconding criminals from contesting the assembly elections in Bihar, the Patna High Court on Wednesday ordered the authorities to furnish a list to the court and returning officers by Friday so that they can be arrested while filing nominations for the polls.

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"Law breakers should not be allowed to become law makers," a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nagendra Rai and Justice S N Hussain said while hearing a public interest litigation of the Indian Medical Association, Bihar.

It directed the superintendents of police to furnish to the court and respective Returning Officers by January 7 the list of criminals against whom non-bailable arrest warrants and property attachment orders are pending.

The court said that with the list of elusive criminals available with the Returning Officers, they could be easily caught while filing nominations for the polls.

Keeping the absconding criminals from directly participating in the polls will help in conduct of free, fair and fearless polls in the state, it said.

The bench asked state Chief Electoral Officer K C Saha to be present before the court on January 7 when it will issue further orders.

During the hearing, Inspector General of Police Neelmani informed the court that there are around 15,000 criminals at large across Bihar with arrest warrants and property attachment orders issued against them.