Supreme Court rules: 'Voters not entitled to full disclosure of candidate's assets'

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a candidate has the right to privacy with regard to topics unrelated to their candidacy and that voters do not have an absolute right to know about every asset a candidate may possess.

SC and the candidature

According to the ruling of the Supreme Court, candidates are exempt from having to reveal every piece of movable property they or their family hold unless it is extremely valuable or reflects an opulent lifestyle. With this decision, the highest court maintained Karikho Kri's election as an independent MLA from the Tezu Assembly constituency in Arunachal Pradesh in 2019. The Gauhati High Court's ruling that Karikho Kri's election was void was overturned by the bench, which included Justices Anirudhha Bose and Sanjay Kumar.

Courting hours 

The failed candidate, Karikho Kri, was accused of exercising undue influence in the election petition, according to a Live Law report, by withholding the election nomination of three automobiles owned by Kri's wife and son. The Court declared that the automobiles could not be regarded as still being owned by Kri's wife and son after determining that they had either been gifted or sold prior to Kri filing the candidacy.

Karikho Kri is an Arunachal Pradeshi MLA who was elected as an independent from the Tezu Assembly constituency in 2019. Congress candidate Nuney Tayang filed an election petition after the election, contesting the announcement of the 2019 result in favor of Mr. Kri. In accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Section 90(a)(c), Tayang filed a petition. He requested a proclamation that would void Kri's election victory in the Tezu seat.