Petition urges court to disqualify candidates supported by religious groups

The court should not permit the participation of religious organisations during election campaigns and it should disqualify those candidates being backed up by such groups. This is exactly what a petition has demanded in the southern state of Kerala.

Last week, July 7, the Kerala High Court received a petition urging it to act on religious groups associating with political parties and candidates standing for elections.

In the petition, the complainant S Ganapathi from Thirumullavaram, Kollam, appealed to the court to make it "illegal" when religious groups or leaders canvass or support for parties, representatives.

Immediately following the petition, the court sent notices to Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), Nair Service Society (NSS), Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and Jama-at-Islami.

Ganapathi in the petition maintains that religious orgsanisations were vigorously campaigning and supporting political parties during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, he demanded the court should disqualify those candidates who were being backed up by such groups.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission responding to the court's queries, agreed to the petition, but said it was not authorised to take action on such cases. It mentioned that action could be taken only through an election petition.