Parties Shouldn't Be Compelled To Disclose Internal Talks Under RTI: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court was hearing petitions seeking a declaration that national and regional political parties were "public authorities" under the RTI Act.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it supported the cause of financial transparency of political parties in the area of financial matters, but was against parties being compelled to disclose internal decisions, including why they chose a particular candidate.

CPI (M), represented by lawyer PV Dinesh, said the party has no objection to Right to Information (RTI) Act with regard to ensuring financial transparency but "there cannot be requests (under RTI) on why a candidate has been selected and for what reasons...and details on the internal decision making process of a party."

To this, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud orally observed that political parties may "have a point" when they fear that accountability under RTI may stretch to even disclosure of internal decisions, including why they chose a particular candidate.