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JhonatanLealMendoza
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The election process in our country is the progenitor of political corruption. Politicians today have a moniaim to capture power, by hook or by crook, with no consideration for moral or ethical values. The erstwhile Chief Election Commissioner, TN Sheshan considered the election process to be the root cause of corruption and the corrupt influences in our political system. In his electoral system of the baneful influences of money power, muscle power, politicians, dominance and bureaucratic favouritism. In the history of Indian democracy, it was Mr. TN Sheshan, who took the cudgels alone to fight the hitherto unchallengeable politicians and showed them the authority of the office of the Election Commission. The indefatigable Sheshan, made it crystal clear that unless the political system, from top to bottom, was freed from the evil of corruption, there could be no permanent solution of this cancerous evil. In the path of reform in election process, the judgement of Supreme Court delivered on 13th March, 2003, has a far reaching positive and resultant impact. With this judgement, it has become mandatory for candidates to declare their criminal antecedents, wealth, educational qualifications etc. A three judge bench said that a voter has a fundamental right to know the antecedents of a candidate and this right was independent of the statutory right under the election law. The judges declared that a voter is first a citizen of this country and apart from statutory rights, he has fundamental rights conferred by the Constitution. A member of the Bench, Mr. Justice MB Shah observed that the right to vote would be meaningless unless citizens are well informed about the antecedents of a candidate. The judge said that exposure to public gaze and scrutiny was one of the surest means to change our democratic governing system and have a competent legislature.