The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised the government for not investigating the huge increase in assets, by up to 500%, of politicians from what they show at the time of nomination.

A Bench of Justices J. Chelameswar and S. Abdul Nazeer said the government had been saying it was in favour of electoral reforms, but it was not forthcoming when it came to revealing details about such massive rise in assets.

CBDT affidavit

Even the affidavit filed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes leaves a lot to be desired.

“The information in the CBDT affidavit is not complete. Is this the attitude of the Government of India,” the Bench asked.

“The government is saying they are not averse to some reform. Necessary information should be there on record [in the court],” the court said.

It directed the government to file a detailed affidavit by September 12.

The top court was hearing a plea disclosure of sources of income by the candidates contesting elections when they file nomination for elections.

The court was hearing a petition filed by a non-governmental organisation, Lok Prahari, for the inclusion of a column in the nomination form seeking details of the sources of income.

The plea has claimed that the candidates while filing their nomination papers were disclosing their assets, assets of their spouse, children and other dependents, but they do not reveal the sources of their income.

The government says it is not averse to some reform; necessary information must be on record