Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National ElectionWatch (NEW) has prepared a report about sitting MLAs, MPs who have declared cases related to crimes against women. As per the report 134 sitting MPs/MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women out of the total 4763 comprising 762 sitting MPs and 4001 sitting MLAs.

The report has been prepared while analysing the election affidavits of 4763 out of 4809 sitting MPs and MLAs.

The report, released on Thursday, analyses 762 out of 776 affidavits of sitting MPs and 4001 out of 4033 sitting MLAs from 28 States and two Union Territories in the last 5 years. It also includes an analysis of the affidavits submitted for by-elections held during the 5 years due to resignation, death or vacation of seat due to some other reason.

A representative of ADR said that the data has been extracted from the affidavits (form 26) submitted with the ECI and filed by the candidates elected as MP and MLAs at the time elections held in the years 2018 to 2023. The current status of the criminal cases taken from these affidavits is not known and may vary from case to case basis.

Among these 134 sitting MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Crimes against women, 21are sitting MPs and 113 are sitting MLAs.

134 sitting MPs/MLAs have declared cases of Crime against women such as charges related to assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354); Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage (IPC 366); rape (IPC 376); Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty (IPC 498A); Buying minor for purposes of prostitution (IPC 373) and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman (IPC 509).

Among various parties, BJP has the highest number of sitting MPs/ MLAs at 44, followed by INC with 25 and AAP with 13 sitting MPs/MLAs who have declared cases related to crimes against women.

Among the states, West Bengal has the highest number of sitting MPs/ MLAs at 26 followed by Maharashtra and Odisha each with 14 sitting MPs/MLAs who have declared cases related crimes against women.

Out of 134 sitting MPs/MLAs, 18 sitting MPs/MLAs have declared cases related to rape.

Among these 18, the 4 are sitting MPs and 14 are sitting MLAs.
Among the parties, BJP has the highest number of sitting MPs/ MLAs at 7 followed by INC with 6 sitting MPs/MLAs who have declared cases related to rape.

ADR has stated that all major political parties give tickets to candidates with cases of crimes against women especially rape and therefore hindering the safety and dignity of women as citizens. Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch recommended that candidates with a criminal background should be debarred from contesting elections.

As directed by the Supreme Court in February 2020, Political parties should declare reasons why candidates with criminal cases are given tickets to contest elections.

Court cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner with court-monitored professional and thorough investigation by police.

Speaking to TOI the ADR Head Maj Gen (retd) Anil Verma said that “the report pertaining to crime against women as declared by the sitting MLAs and MPs has been released today upon analysing the affidavits filed by 4763 siting MLAs and MPs”.