Election Commission has proposed before Supreme Court that any person against whom a court has framed charges for offences punishable with a jail term of five years or more, should be barred from contesting polls. In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the EC said that after being named in a case, a person ceases to have the integrity which is a must for any candidate seeking a high public office.

The Supreme Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by an NGO, demanding a ban on persons charged with criminal offences from contesting polls. The matter will come up for hearing on Monday.