2 Key Issues Took Centre Stage As Court Struck Down Electoral Bonds Scheme
NDTV
Electoral bonds violate people's right to information and Article 14 of the Constitution guaranteeing equality. They also infringe on the principle of free and fair elections as stipulated in the constitution, the court argued.
The Supreme Court has declared the Electoral bond Scheme – launched in 2018 with much fanfare – as unconstitutional on several counts. They violate people's right to information and Article 14 of the Constitution guaranteeing equality. They also infringe on the principle of free and fair elections as stipulated in the constitution, the court argued.
The Electoral Bond Scheme was launched in 2018 after a series of amendments to financial rules in 2016 and 2017. The petitioners had argued that their effect was to enable political parties to not disclose the contributions received through electoral bonds, allow companies to make unlimited funding and not disclose the details of contributions made in any form.
The petitions filed on the matter had asked the court to resolve two issues: -- Whether amendments violate the Right to Information under Article 19(1)(a) and whether unlimited corporate funding violates principles of free and fair elections.
