Electoral bonds versus electoral trusts: The debate raging since Independence
Hindustan TimesWhile striking down the Electoral Bonds Scheme last week, the Supreme Court’s constitution bench suggested reverting to an existing electoral trust mechanism that allows for pooling of sums of money from different entities and leaves it upon the trust’s management to decide where the money goes — thus putting some distance between the political organisation and the donor. Some of this black money was funnelled back to political parties and candidates for favourable policy decisions, a paper titled ‘Reforming India’s party financing and election expenditure laws’ published in 2012 stated. In 1990, the Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended limited state funding for campaign expenses and advocated for a ban on corporate donations to political parties, leaving a gap in campaign finance. Between the 2013-14 and 2022-23 financial years, ₹2,603.3 crore was contributed to political parties via various electoral trusts.