Will Ban On Electoral Bonds Clean Up Indian Politics?
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court has declared the Electoral bond Scheme - launched in 2018 with much fanfare - as unconstitutional. They violate the people's right to information and Article 14 of the Constitution guaranteeing equality. They also infringe upon 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 argued that their effect was to enable political parties to not disclose contributions received through electoral bonds, allow companies to make unlimited funding, and not disclose the details of contributions made in any form. This has now been overturned. On The Big Fight, we ask, "Will the Supreme Court ruling clean up political funding in the country?"