Ensuring trust in the electoral process
3 years, 9 months ago

Ensuring trust in the electoral process

The Hindu  

The Election Commission of India has announced dates for elections to five Legislative Assemblies. However, using the money bill route to bypass the Rajya Sabha, the government introduced regressive amendments to laws, including the Income Tax Act of 1961, the Companies Act of 2013, and the Representation of the People Act of 1951, to introduce electoral bonds which allow donors to anonymously donate unlimited amounts of funds to political parties. Expressing its opposition to electoral bonds in the Supreme Court, the Election Commission has contended that they will have an adverse impact on transparency in political party financing and would make it impossible for the constitutional body to ascertain whether donations received were in compliance with the statutory framework governing political parties. In conjunction with these amendments, which enabled Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies to make donations to political parties, electoral bonds allow anonymous financing by foreign entities opening Indian elections to the influence of foreign interests. Big money in electoral politics The rationale given by the government for providing anonymity to donors of electoral bonds is to allow donors to use legitimate funds to support political parties by protecting them against the wrath of rival parties, especially the party in power.

India Political Parties Money Indian Black Money Party Bjp Electoral Foreign Act Donors Bonds Donations Electoral Bonds  ensuring  process  party  donations  electoral  donors  bonds  trust  act  money  foreign  political  parties

History of this topic

Electoral Bonds: SC declines pleas seeking SIT probe into alleged quid pro quo in electoral bond donations
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Electoral Bonds: SC declines pleas seeking SIT probe into alleged quid pro quo in electoral bond donations

Op India  

The Supreme Court on Friday declined a batch of petitions seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team into the alleged instances of quid pro quo arrangements between corporates and political parties through Electoral Bonds donations. The top court also rejected the demand to direct the authorities to recover the donations received by political parties through Electoral Bonds and to …

Electoral bonds: SC to hear plea seeking SIT probe
5 months ago

Electoral bonds: SC to hear plea seeking SIT probe

The Hindu  

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on July 19, 2024, said a petition seeking the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to probe each and every instance of quid pro quo, corruption, and kickbacks revealed through the disclosure of details of the electoral bonds would be listed for hearing on July 22. The petition submitted that some of the country’s …

Supreme Court to hear plea to set up panel to probe into electoral bonds on July 22
5 months ago

Supreme Court to hear plea to set up panel to probe into electoral bonds on July 22

India Today  

The Supreme Court will be hearing a batch of pleas seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team under judicial supervision into the alleged scam in the electoral bonds scheme, which was earlier scrapped by the Supreme Court on February 15. While citing several media reports, the petition asserted that the published information indicates that the majority of the bonds …

SC to Review PIL Seeking Probe into Electoral Bonds Scheme
5 months, 1 week ago

SC to Review PIL Seeking Probe into Electoral Bonds Scheme

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider listing a public interest litigation that urged a court-monitored investigation into the electoral bonds scheme. The PIL, filed by NGOs Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, alleges an "apparent quid pro quo" between political parties, corporations, and investigative agencies. A five-judge Constitution bench had on February 15 …

DC Edit | Poll bonds: Be transparent
8 months ago

DC Edit | Poll bonds: Be transparent

Deccan Chronicle  

The continued defence of the electoral bond scheme by senior government leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite the Supreme Court of India finding that it violated the Constitution betrays a self-righteousness that does not square with democratic principles. It is everyone’s case that parties should not fight elections on the strength of black money provided to them by interest …

Nirmala Sitharaman hints at bringing in a political funding framework that will be acceptable to all
8 months ago

Nirmala Sitharaman hints at bringing in a political funding framework that will be acceptable to all

Live Mint  

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hinted at the posibility of bringing back the electoral bonds scheme after proper consultation with stakeholders if voted to power. While speaking to HindustanTimes, she said, “We still have to do a lot of consultation with stakeholders and see what is it that we have to do to make or bring in a framework …

Electoral bonds will be back after consultations: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
8 months ago

Electoral bonds will be back after consultations: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Hindustan Times  

The Bharatiya Janata Party intends to bring back electoral bonds in some form after wide consultations will all stakeholders if it is elected back to power in the 2024 general elections, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday, reposing her faith in the controversial political funding scheme that was scrapped by the Supreme Court in February but admitting that …

​Pandora’s box: The Hindu Editorial on the electoral bonds scheme, emerging details
8 months, 2 weeks ago

​Pandora’s box: The Hindu Editorial on the electoral bonds scheme, emerging details

The Hindu  

In the last month or so, ever since the State Bank of India was compelled by the Supreme Court of India to release information on donations via electoral bonds to political parties, emerging details have only confirmed the worst fears of naysayers in regulatory and policy-making institutions about the scheme before it was introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party -led …

Bonds, big money and an imperfect democracy
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Bonds, big money and an imperfect democracy

The Hindu  

The electoral bonds scheme that has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of India, was supposed to end the financing of elections with black money. In effect, the electoral bonds scheme was only an additional avenue for funds that political parties received. Cronyism uncovered Even though the electoral bonds formed a fraction of the total funding requirement of political …

Abuse of money power in elections is a serious concern, says former Supreme Court judge
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Abuse of money power in elections is a serious concern, says former Supreme Court judge

The Hindu  

Justice Jasti Chelameswar, former Supreme Court judge, has said that the manner in which people are exercising their right to vote and their apathy to it in the context of the growing abuse of money power in elections are a matter of serious concern. “While the Election Commission of India strives to conduct free and fair elections, the electorate should …

DC Edit | Only probe can establish facts of murky poll bond sales
8 months, 4 weeks ago

DC Edit | Only probe can establish facts of murky poll bond sales

Deccan Chronicle  

The Supreme Court of India struck down the electoral bond scheme finding it violative of the citizen’s fundamental right to information under Article 19 of the Constitution. The information that has reached the public domain after the State Bank of India, which executed the scheme, handed it over to the Election Commission of India on the orders of the court …

'Breach of trust': Ex-finance secretary on SBI's electoral bonds move
8 months, 4 weeks ago

'Breach of trust': Ex-finance secretary on SBI's electoral bonds move

India Today  

Former Finance Secretary Subhash Garg has suggested that the electoral bonds data released by the State Bank of India exposed a significant breach of trust. Speaking to India Today, the former Finance Secretary said, "The meticulously designed electoral bonds, meant to safeguard against any link between donors and political affiliations, did have an invisible alphanumeric code, not meant to be …

Electoral bonds are ‘post-raid’ bribes to BJP-led government: Jairam Ramesh
9 months ago

Electoral bonds are ‘post-raid’ bribes to BJP-led government: Jairam Ramesh

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the electoral bonds are “pre-paid”, “post-paid” and “post-raid” bribes, through which the central government had given Rs.3.8 lakh crore in projects and contracts to private companies in exchange for Rs.2,004 crore in donations to the Bharatiya Janata Party. In its 2019 manifesto, the Congress promised to scrap …

Satire | Bias against electoral bonds
9 months ago

Satire | Bias against electoral bonds

The Hindu  

The electoral bond, like yoga and zero, is one of the great innovations of Indic genius — it’s our gift to human civilisation. As the cop gaped at him, Wife quipped from the backseat, “Don’t let him leave India until he buys electoral bonds.” “Both of you, stop it!” I said. Seriously, it’s appalling to find all kinds of busybodies …

Electoral Bonds case | SBI confirms to Supreme Court its ‘complete disclosure’ of electoral bonds data
9 months ago

Electoral Bonds case | SBI confirms to Supreme Court its ‘complete disclosure’ of electoral bonds data

The Hindu  

The State Bank of India on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it has made a “complete disclosure” of all the details regarding the purchase and encashment of electoral bonds in its possession and custody to the Election Commission of India for publication on its official website. In an affidavit, SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara said that the information shared …

Electoral Bonds: Supreme Court rebukes SBI, says don't be ‘selective’
9 months ago

Electoral Bonds: Supreme Court rebukes SBI, says don't be ‘selective’

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: The State Bank of India can't be selective in disclosing information linked to electoral bonds, the Supreme Court of India said on Monday, directing the bank to submit full details of the bonds' numbers to the Election Commission by March 21. The Supreme Court ordered the bank to disclose all "conceivable" electoral bond details in its possession, including …

Electoral Bonds Case: SBI must provide full details on electoral bonds without bias, as required by the court
9 months ago

Electoral Bonds Case: SBI must provide full details on electoral bonds without bias, as required by the court

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the State of Bank of India to be “candid and fair” and not selective while directing it to make a “complete disclosure” of electoral bonds’ data, including their unique hidden alphanumeric and serial numbers, to the Election Commission of India for publication. The court said the information on electoral bonds forwarded to the ECI …

ECI uploads more data on bonds till November 2023
9 months ago

ECI uploads more data on bonds till November 2023

Hindustan Times  

The Election Commission of India on Sunday uploaded all electoral bond-related documents that it received from political parties in 2019 and November 2023 in sealed covers, which it had subsequently submitted to the Supreme Court. Between April 12, 2019 and February 15, 2024, VM Salgaocar and Brother bought bonds worth ₹1.5 crore while an associated company, VM Salgaocar Corporation Private …

Electoral bonds case highlights: RJD, JD(U) trade charges over EB scheme
9 months ago

Electoral bonds case highlights: RJD, JD(U) trade charges over EB scheme

Hindustan Times  

Electoral bonds case highlights: The Supreme Court on Monday heard a case regarding the State Bank of India disclosing the "unique serial numbers" of electoral bonds. Under the now-defunct 2018 Electoral Bond scheme, each bond is marked with a unique serial number, which could aid in monitoring their issuance and redemption and tracing them back to the purchaser. Expressing disapproval, …

Electoral bonds: A key poll plank for anti-BJP forces
9 months ago

Electoral bonds: A key poll plank for anti-BJP forces

Hindustan Times  

The disclosure about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s earnings from electoral bonds is expected to fuel the opposition’s narrative against the ruling party and will be a key bone of contention in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled to begin from April 19. Following the disclosures, BJP spokesperson RP Singh said, of the ₹20,000 crore-odd electoral bonds, only ₹6,000 crore has …

Electoral bonds an experiment, time will tell how beneficial it was: RSS
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral bonds an experiment, time will tell how beneficial it was: RSS

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Amid a row over the electoral bonds, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Sunday said the system was introduced as an experiment with checks and balances. Time will tell how beneficial and effective the system is,” Hosabale told reporters at Nagpur on the last day of Sangh’s annual Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha. Replying to a question on the Sangh’s …

Bonded favours: The Hindu Editorial on the electoral bond scheme, sordid revelations
9 months, 1 week ago

Bonded favours: The Hindu Editorial on the electoral bond scheme, sordid revelations

The Hindu  

Sordid revelations that keep pouring from the disclosure of details about the purchasers and recipients of electoral bonds confirm the early apprehension of sceptics that the anonymous political funding scheme will have undesirable consequences. Ranging from likely quid pro quo deals to flagrant proximity between companies being investigated by central agencies and the purchase of electoral bonds worth hundreds of …

‘Electoral bonds is an experiment’: RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale
9 months, 1 week ago

‘Electoral bonds is an experiment’: RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale

Hindustan Times  

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday reacted to the concerns raised on the electoral bonds data, saying that it is just an “experiment”, adding that “questions are raised when a new thing comes up”. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale “It is not that electoral bonds have suddenly been introduced today, it was brought earlier also. Hence, the …

Election Commission always in favour of transparency, but must also protect donor privacy: CEC on electoral bonds scheme
9 months, 1 week ago

Election Commission always in favour of transparency, but must also protect donor privacy: CEC on electoral bonds scheme

The Hindu  

Amid the storm over the scrapping of the electoral bonds scheme and its donor data being made public, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the Election Commission of India has always been in favour of transparency, but added that there was a need to ensure that the donors’ privacy is protected. “As far as electoral bonds are concerned, the …

‘Answer maadi Modi’: Karnataka CM targets PM on Electoral Bonds during latter's poll campaign in Kalaburagi
9 months, 1 week ago

‘Answer maadi Modi’: Karnataka CM targets PM on Electoral Bonds during latter's poll campaign in Kalaburagi

Hindustan Times  

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is kickstarting his general election campaign from Karnataka’s Kalaburagi on Saturday, CM Siddaramaiah attacked the former and asked him why his party is silent about the ‘electoral bond scam.’ ‘Answer maadi Modi’: Karnataka CM targets PM on Electoral Bonds during his visit In a series of X posts, Siddaramaiah said, “For a decade, you held …

Electoral bonds display ‘scientific corruption’ methods of the BJP: Former Puducherry CM
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral bonds display ‘scientific corruption’ methods of the BJP: Former Puducherry CM

The Hindu  

Accusing the BJP of indulging in “scientific corruption” to raise party funds, former Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Saturday demanded a detailed probe into the money received through the electoral bond scheme, by the BJP. Addressing a press conference, he said details emerging from the disclosures made on purchasers of electoral bonds revealed that many of the donors were …

Always favor transparency - CEC on electoral bonds
9 months, 1 week ago

Always favor transparency - CEC on electoral bonds

New Indian Express  

Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar today said the commission was in favor of 'complete transparency' in the funding of political parties, but people who contribute to parties should not be harassed. The bonds were introduced by the Modi government in 2017 as a way for companies to send money to political parties without having to resort to 'black money'. It …

DC Edit | State Bank should have shared all info on bonds
9 months, 1 week ago

DC Edit | State Bank should have shared all info on bonds

Deccan Chronicle  

There was no room for equivocating after the Supreme Court had ruled that the information regarding the electoral bonds sold by the bank and bonds redeemed by political parties be made public through the Election Commission’s website. Having sullied its reputation in having sought an impossibly long time to put out the information on the bonds that facilitated donating to …

Conflict of interest is built into the idea of electoral bonds
9 months, 1 week ago

Conflict of interest is built into the idea of electoral bonds

Hindustan Times  

“Martin, who” did you say? Electoral bonds were meant to mark the end of the suitcase-era of political funding — days when cash was stuffed into attache cases and handed over and under tables. And because no one really wants to have this unsexy conversation, it’s much easier to indulge in competitive political outrage over electoral bonds and watch the …

Electoral bonds scheme was world’s biggest extortion racket run by PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral bonds scheme was world’s biggest extortion racket run by PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi

The Hindu  

In a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the electoral bonds scheme, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Mr. Modi of “running the world’s largest extortion racket”. Electoral bonds | Congress demands SC-monitored probe into donations to BJP by companies raided by I-T department and ED Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry, while the …

Electoral Bonds Data Given To ECI In Two PDF Files With Purchaser & Political Parties Details : SBI Chairman Tells Supreme Court
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral Bonds Data Given To ECI In Two PDF Files With Purchaser & Political Parties Details : SBI Chairman Tells Supreme Court

Live Law  

The Chairman of the State Bank of India on Wednesday filed a compliance affidavit, informing the Supreme Court that the Bank has furnished the details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India. The details have been provided in two separate information packets - the first containing details of the purchasers of the electoral bonds, and the second containing …

Electoral Bonds Case: SBI files compliance affidavit in SC after sending electoral bonds details to EC
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral Bonds Case: SBI files compliance affidavit in SC after sending electoral bonds details to EC

The Hindu  

The State Bank of India on March 13 informed the Supreme Court that details of electoral bonds anonymously purchased by contributors and encashed by political parties between April 2019 and February 15, 2024 were hand-delivered to the Election Commission of India in order to facilitate public disclosure of political funding. The SBI said a total of 22,217 electoral bonds were …

Follow SC for reforms in electoral funding
9 months, 1 week ago

Follow SC for reforms in electoral funding

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court did well to reject the plea of the State Bank of India for an extension on the disclosure of details about electoral bonds and direct the State-owned bank to furnish these before the Election Commission of India by the end of business hours on Tuesday, March 12. On February 15, the SC scrapped the electoral bonds scheme …

SBI Furnishes Electoral Bonds Details To ECI After Supreme Court Rebuke
9 months, 1 week ago

SBI Furnishes Electoral Bonds Details To ECI After Supreme Court Rebuke

Live Law  

In a significant development following the Supreme Court's rebuke, the State Bank of India has furnished electoral bonds details to the Election Commission of India in compliance with the court's directives. 880 of 2017), data on electoral bonds has been supplied by State Bank of India to Election Commission of India, today, March 12, 2024." This announcement comes on the …

'...As certified by Supreme Court': Congress calls electoral bonds 'mega corruption scandal'
9 months, 1 week ago

'...As certified by Supreme Court': Congress calls electoral bonds 'mega corruption scandal'

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: Reacting to the Supreme Court's verdict on electoral bonds, the Congress on Monday said the apex court has protected Indian democracy from “the devious machinations of this regime”. The fact is that the government is scared of all their skeletons tumbling out of the closet," Congress leader KC Venugopal wrote in X. KC Venugopal claimed the Supreme Court …

Electoral bonds: Supreme Court raps SBI, asks ‘what steps have you taken in last 26 days?’
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral bonds: Supreme Court raps SBI, asks ‘what steps have you taken in last 26 days?’

Hindustan Times  

Electoral bonds case hearing: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the State Bank of India for not complying with its order and not disclosing electoral bond donor details to the Election Commission of India by March 6. The Supreme Court rejected the SBI's application seeking time till June 30 to disclose the details, giving it time till the business …

Electoral bonds: Supreme Court raps SBI, asks ‘what steps have you taken in last 26 days?’
9 months, 1 week ago

Electoral bonds: Supreme Court raps SBI, asks ‘what steps have you taken in last 26 days?’

Hindustan Times  

Electoral bonds case hearing: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the State Bank of India for not complying with its order and not disclosing electoral bond donor details to the Election Commission of India by March 6. The Supreme Court rejected the SBI's application seeking time till June 30 to disclose the details, giving it time till the business …

Electoral bonds: Key Supreme Court hearing today as SBI, NGO file petitions | 10 points
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Electoral bonds: Key Supreme Court hearing today as SBI, NGO file petitions | 10 points

Hindustan Times  

All eyes will be on the Supreme Court on Monday, March 11, as it will hear the application filed by the State Bank of India seeking an extension till June 30 to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties before the scheme was scrapped last month. A view of the Supreme Court of India A five-judge Constitution …

Electoral bonds case | Five-judge Bench to hold special sitting on SBI plea for more time
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Electoral bonds case | Five-judge Bench to hold special sitting on SBI plea for more time

The Hindu  

A special sitting by a five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is scheduled on March 11 to hear an application filed by the State Bank of India seeking time till June 30 to share details of electoral bonds purchased anonymously and encashed by political parties since April 2019. A contempt petition filed by the Association for …

Electoral bonds scheme | Modi government using SBI as a “shield” to hide dubious deals: Kharge
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Electoral bonds scheme | Modi government using SBI as a “shield” to hide dubious deals: Kharge

The Hindu  

A day after the State Bank of India sought time from the Supreme Court until June 30 to submit details of the electoral bond scheme, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Narendra Modi-led government of using the SBI as a “shield to hide its dubious dealings”. “Modi Govt is using the largest bank of our country as a shield to …

‘Narendra Modi has...’: Congress links SBI electoral bond move to Lok Sabha polls
9 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Narendra Modi has...’: Congress links SBI electoral bond move to Lok Sabha polls

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: Reacting to the State Bank of India's plea before the Supreme Court seeking more time to disclose electoral bonds' details, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of using the bank to hide its alleged "dubious dealing". Weeks after the Supreme Court ordered India's largest bank to disclose the details of bonds encashed …

Electoral bonds a scandal, move to annul them will lead to greater transparency: Amartya Sen
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Electoral bonds a scandal, move to annul them will lead to greater transparency: Amartya Sen

New Indian Express  

KOLKATA: Eminent economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's recent judgment annulling the electoral bonds scheme, denouncing it as a scandal. Speaking to PTI from Massachusetts, USA, Sen said that the move will lead to greater transparency among people in the electoral context. In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court annulled the electoral bonds scheme …

Explainer | Ctrl + Delete: Electoral Bonds
10 months ago

Explainer | Ctrl + Delete: Electoral Bonds

New Indian Express  

"Political contributions give a seat at the table to the contributor. This access also translates into influence over policy-making,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud while declaring the electoral bond scheme illegal in a landmark judgment on February 15. The CJI’s sharp words underscore the notion of the unholy nexus between money power and political parties, and how …

Electoral Bonds and Chandigarh: Will SC's Recent Run Prove to Be Fleeting?
10 months ago

Electoral Bonds and Chandigarh: Will SC's Recent Run Prove to Be Fleeting?

The Quint  

Similarly, the Court’s acknowledgement of the criminal nature of the acts that occurred on 6 December 1992, and the subsequent allocation of the disputed land to the majority community, exacerbates the matter. Moreover, the Court’s decision to hand over five acres of land to the Muslim community elsewhere adds another layer of complexity to the issue. The trajectory of the …

Making sense of electoral bond judgment through data
10 months ago

Making sense of electoral bond judgment through data

The Hindu  

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled the electoral bonds Scheme unconstitutional, saying that the anonymous influx of funding to political parties, especially from corporations, hinders democratic legitimacy. In Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s opinion, “access to information which can materially shape the citizens’ choice is necessary for them to have a say in how their lives are affected.” This meant Solicitor General …

Electoral bonds versus electoral trusts: The debate raging since Independence
10 months ago

Electoral bonds versus electoral trusts: The debate raging since Independence

Hindustan Times  

While 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 …

A Fillip To Democracy : Supreme Court's Electoral Bonds Case Verdict
10 months ago

A Fillip To Democracy : Supreme Court's Electoral Bonds Case Verdict

Live Law  

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India gave a much needed fillip to our democracy. Through these amendments, Parliament introduced a new arrangement for financial contributions to political parties, the “Electoral Bond Scheme.” The law now allowed an individual or any “artificial juridical person,” including corporations, to buy bonds issued by the State Bank of India during stipulated periods of …

SC strikes down electoral bonds scheme, EFTA trade agreement raises concerns, and more | The week in 5 charts
10 months ago

SC strikes down electoral bonds scheme, EFTA trade agreement raises concerns, and more | The week in 5 charts

The Hindu  

Electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional: Supreme Court In a landmark unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court on February 15, Thursday, struck down as “unconstitutional and manifestly arbitrary” the electoral bonds scheme, which provides blanket anonymity to political donors, as well as critical legal amendments allowing rich corporations to make unlimited political donations. The court dismissed the Union government’s argument that the anonymity …

The clear message in the Court’s ‘no’ to electoral bonds
10 months, 1 week ago

The clear message in the Court’s ‘no’ to electoral bonds

The Hindu  

The judgment of the Supreme Court of India, on February 15, 2024, striking down the electoral bonds scheme, is a landmark moment. The judgment says: “The chief reason for corporate funding of political parties is to influence the political process which may in turn improve the company’s business performance.” Electoral bonds also removed the earlier limits on how much of …

The Hindu Morning Digest, February 16, 2024
10 months, 1 week ago

The Hindu Morning Digest, February 16, 2024

The Hindu  

Supreme Court declares electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional In a landmark unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down as “unconstitutional and manifestly arbitrary” the electoral bonds scheme, which provides blanket anonymity to political donors, as well as critical legal amendments allowing rich corporations to make unlimited political donations. Matching buyers of electoral bonds with recipients could be tricky, say …

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