Let’s aim for transparent funding trails and reduced influence of money on poll outcomes While “political party” is not entirely absent as a mention in India’s Constitution, it finds space only in the 10th Schedule, which was added in 1985, brought about by the introduction of an anti-defection law. Otherwise, could it be that the […]
Month: March 2024
Funding politics: Many ideas, no takers
The electoral bonds data in public domain, with secret numbers readable only by ultraviolet light, will continue to be parsed and investigated. But, we also need to, now, think beyond EBs. From its introduction to its cancellation, the road EBs took has made it clear that political party funding reforms are an absolute imperative. Three […]
Five facts, five takeaways
You can read the article here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/electoral-bonds-five-facts-five-takeaways/amp_articleshow/108531290.cms. This article was originally published in TOI+.
Filling up vacancies in Election Commission is a matter of public interest
Given that the law appointing the election commissioners is being challenged in court, the two vacancies in the Election Commission must be filled using the process suggested by the Supreme Court in March 2023 The resignation of Election Commissioner (EC) Arun Goel coupled with the earlier superannuation of EC Anup Chandra Pandey on February 14, […]
Their notes before your votes
SC has batted big for transparency by dismissing SBI’s plea for more time to disclose electoral bonds info. People have a right to be aware of political party funding before they go to polling booths On March 11, SC took up two petitions of national importance. One was State Bank of India’s plea seeking extension […]
Electoral Bonds | The Way Forward: Tackling the Pre-2017 System
Exposure to public scrutiny is one of the known means for getting courageous and credible people to govern. On 15th February 2024, the Supreme Court of India finally paid much-needed tribute to that little man, a citizen, a voter whose contributions to a participatory democracy were incessantly disparaged by the political establishments in recent times. It is […]
Interview: Jagdeep Chhokar brings his fight against electoral bonds to an end
This article is an interview of Prof Chhokar, Founder Member and Trustee of ADR, with Indian News Weekly. At the last moment of elections, the Supreme Court has created an uproar among political parties by declaring the ‘Electoral Bond Scheme’ unconstitutional. For the ruling party, this was such a system of getting access from […]
Electoral Bonds and the Curious Case of SBI Keeping Crucial Data in Physical Form
It took the largest bank in the country 17 days, from February 16 to March 3, to figure out that it cannot provide information by March 6 but will be able to provide it only by June 30. On the afternoon of March 4, 2024, the State Bank of India (SBI) filed an application in […]