Cash seizure order only for political parties' agents: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today asked the Election Commission to amend its directive to randomly search and seize 'in-transit' cash in poll-bound Gujarat by making it clear that it will be applicable only to agents and workers of political parties carrying an amount above Rs 50,000.

A bench of justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur passed the interim order after Election Commission agreed to amend its blanket order for seizing cash amount above Rs 2.5 lakh in transit during the Gujarat assembly elections.

"We want to make clear it that the directive shall be applicable for the agents and workers of the political parties. Our concern is that the common and ordinary citizen should not be harassed," the bench observed. The bench said this interim arrangement will continue till the state assembly election and later it will hear the matter in detail.

It issued notice and sought response from Bhagyoday Jan Parishad and Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the appeal filed by the Election Commission against the order of the Gujarat High Court which had quashed its directive for seizing cash above Rs 2.5 lakh saying it was unconstitutional.