Court says candidates don’t need to disclose every movable asset

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court today observed that voters do not have an “absolute right” to know every asset of a candidate contesting an election.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and PV Sanjay Kumar said: “No voter has an absolute right to gain insight into the private life of a candidate and every disclosure must have the effect of affecting the vote. nature.”

The Supreme Court said candidates have a right to privacy regarding matters unrelated to their candidacy for public office.

“It is not necessary for a candidate to declare every piece of movable property such as clothes, shoes, crockery, stationery, furniture, etc. owned by him or his dependent family members, unless the value of such items is sufficient to constitute a considerable asset,” the Supreme Court noted. lifestyle itself or reflects his candidacy and requires disclosure.”

The Supreme Court’s direction to uphold the election of Karikho Kri, an independent MP from Tezhu, in the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, setting aside the Gauhati High Court order declaring his election invalid .

The High Court declared his election invalid while hearing a petition filed by Congress candidate Nuney Tayang challenging the declaration of the results of the 2019 parliamentary elections.

Mr Tayan claimed Mr Kerry made false claims in his election nomination papers and failed to disclose that he occupied government accommodation.

The petitioner also claimed that Mr. Kerry failed to submit “no-charge certificates” to the relevant authorities for rent, electricity, water and telephone bills for government quarters.