Supreme Court to Center: The public does not generally have a right to know the origins of Election Bonds

 Supreme Court to Center: The public does not generally have a right to know the origins of Election Bonds

As reported by CNBC-TV18 and LiveLaw, the central government responded to appeals against the electoral bonds program in a document it filed with the Supreme Court on October 29. "Citizens do not have a general right to know about the origins of electoral bonds," Attorney universal R Venkataramani said the Supreme Court, according to reports.

In its declaration, the Center also admitted that political parties get funding among other kinds of assistance.

Entitled to Know?

According to CNBC-TV18, AG Venkataramani stressed that the "right to know" should be subject to reasonable constraints and may be used for certain goals or purposes.

The Center also said that it opposed a "general right to know everything for undefined ends" due to worries about the expansive nature of such a right.

On October 31, as previously reported by PTI, a five-judge Supreme Court constitution panel is scheduled to start deliberating on the series of appeals contesting the legality of the electoral bond program for financing political parties.

Leading the bench, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the court would take up four appeals, including those from CPI(M) and Congressman Jaya Thakur. According to PTI, justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra are among the other members of the panel.

Legislative Bonds

The goal of the Electoral Bonds program, which was unveiled on January 2, 2018, was to improve political fundraising transparency by offering a cash gift substitute.

Citizens of India or organizations established in India may acquire electoral bonds under the terms of the plan. Election bonds may be purchased by individual persons acting alone or in concert with others.

To be eligible to obtain electoral bonds, political parties must be registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and must have received at least one percent of the votes in the most recent general election for the Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly.

The announcement states that the only way for qualified political parties to cash electoral bonds is via accounts with approved banks.

Anxieties Surface

Prashant Bhushan, speaking on behalf of the non-governmental Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), said on October 10 that prior to the electoral bond plan being implemented in the general elections of 2024, adjudication is required. Bhushan said that electoral bonds' anonymous financing promotes corruption and infringes on people' rights to live in a country free from corruption.

It is significant that the Election Commission (ECI) and the Center had opposing positions on political fundraising in court. The EC promoted openness by disclosing donor names, whereas the government sought to preserve donor anonymity.