The Vohra Committee was a high-level committee appointed by the Government of India in 1993 to examine the problem of the criminalization of politics in India. The committee was headed by former Home Secretary N.N. Vohra and included representatives from various law enforcement agencies and intelligence services.
The Vohra Committee report, submitted in 1995, highlighted the links between organized crime and politics in India and called for urgent measures to address this problem. The report stated that “the criminalization of politics and the politicization of criminals” was a serious threat to India’s democracy and recommended several measures to tackle the problem.
One of the main recommendations of the Vohra Committee was the creation of a national database of criminals. The committee recommended that all law enforcement agencies should be connected to this database and should have access to information on the criminal history of individuals. This would help in preventing criminals from entering politics and also in identifying and prosecuting politicians with criminal backgrounds.
Another recommendation of the Vohra Committee was the disqualification of politicians with criminal backgrounds. The committee recommended that all political parties should be required to provide information on the criminal background of their candidates at the time of nomination. Candidates with criminal records should be disqualified from contesting elections and holding public office.
The Vohra Committee also recommended the establishment of special courts to expedite the trial of cases involving politicians and organized crime. The committee suggested that these courts should have the power to confiscate the assets of convicted criminals and use the proceeds to compensate victims.
The Vohra Committee report received widespread attention and led to the enactment of several measures to address the problem of the criminalization of politics in India. However, the problem persists to this day, with many politicians facing criminal charges and some even holding public office despite their criminal records.
In conclusion, the Vohra Committee report was a wake-up call for India’s democracy, highlighting the serious threat posed by the criminalization of politics. The recommendations of the committee, if implemented in letter and spirit, could go a long way in restoring the credibility of India’s political system and ensuring that the country’s democracy remains vibrant and strong.
Important Links