Skip to main content
newindianexpress.com
Date
City
New Delhi


NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, the Election Commission and six political parties, including Congress and BJP, on a plea to declare all national and regional political parties "public authorities" to bring them under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

A bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and justices Arun Kumar Mishra and Amitava Roy was hearing a petition filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms, an NGO, which has also sought a direction that the political parties be asked to declare all donations, including those below Rs 20,000 also.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, contended that political parties were public authorities and hence amenable to the RTI Act.

The Central Information Commission, in its detailed order, had held that political parties were public authorities and hence should disclose the information under RTI Act.

Contentions of the NGO

  • Political parties do not have to pay the income tax on the donations and, moreover, the donations below Rs 20,000 are not to be disclosed under the law by them.

  • These parties also controlled the legislature and the law-making process.

  • Political parties received huge  sums of money in form of donations and contributions from corporates, trusts and individuals but do not disclose complete information about the source of such donations.

  • Political parties enjoyed a stronghold over their elected MPs and MLAs under Schedule 10 of the Constitution that makes it compulsory for members of either Houses of Parliament or state legislatures to abide by the directions of their parties, failing which they stand to be disqualified.

 

Earlier, the NGO had approached SC seeking transparency and accountability in functioning of recognised national and regional political parties.

In its plea, the NGO had urged the apex court to direct all national and regional parties to mandatorily disclose details about their income as well as expenditure.

It had also sought declaration of entire details of donations and funding received by the political parties, irrespective of the amount donated and details of donors making donations to them and to electoral trusts.