THE SUPREME COURT ON FRIDAY sought responses from the Union government and the Election Commission of India (‘ECI’) on a public interest petition calling for the framing of the rules to govern the registration and functioning of political parties, aimed at curbing criminalisation, corruption and lack of transparency in politics.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice and gave four weeks’ time for replies. The bench also directed petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, an advocate, to make all recognised and registered political parties respondents in the case since any eventual directions would have a direct bearing on them.
The petition alleged that “bogus political outfits” were flourishing in the absence of regulation, some even controlled by separatist elements, who use them to collect donations and provide political cover to criminals. It accused certain parties of appointing kidnappers, drug traffickers and money launderers as office bearers after collecting hefty sums.
