Chief election commissioner SY Quraishi on Thursday said the individuals chargesheeted by courts in criminal offences which carry a punishment of five years or more should not be allowed to contest elections. “It is time to accept the election commission's proposal to disqualify any person accused of an offence punishable by imprisonment for five years or more, from contesting elections even when trial is pending, provided charges have been framed against him by a competent court,” he said.

He said the Law Commission had recommended that at least those against whom charges have been framed by court of law should be debarred from contesting.

“Today we have 2,57,928 people in prisons who are undertrials. They have not been convicted.

Quraishi said efforts are on to frame rules to enable NRIs to vote but gave no assurance on its implementation in assembly polls due next year.

Moily said the government proposes to bring a comprehensive bill on electoral reforms in the next five months.