Gratifications to voters will kill democracy: HC

MADURAI: Madras high court on Tuesday sought follow-up details from the state election commission on cases registered for distribution of cash to voters during 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 state assembly elections.

Justice B Pugalendhi asked how many cases were registered, what stage these were in, and details of cases that ended in conviction, if any. He requested the election commission to explain how it was following up the cases registered for electoral offences, and to offer suggestions, if any, for effective prevention of gratification to voters.

Court was hearing petitions filed by people seeking to quash final reports filed against them in the alleged distribution of money to voters during 2011 polls. "Democracy is the basic principle in our Constitution. Of late, gratifications are being made to electors in the form of money, food, prizes, etc. Such gratifications would demolish the basic structure of the Constitution and democracy," justice Pugalendhi observed.

He said it appears the legislature has not treated the offence proportionate to its gravity, but as an offence punishable with up to one year of imprisonment. As a result, distribution of cash and gifts to voters has increased, he said. Citing newspaper reports that Rs 4,650 crore has been seized for the upcoming elections, court said it was higher than the amount recovered during the entire poll in 2019.

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