Bench: Hon’ble Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Prafulla C. Pant, and S. Ravindra Bhat
FACTS
The Lok Prahari, a public interest group, filed a writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the RPA and the ECI Act. The petitioner argued that these provisions did not provide adequate disclosure requirements for the assets and sources of income of political parties and their candidates, thereby undermining transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
ISSUES
Whether the provisions of the RPA and the ECI Act regarding the disclosure of assets and sources of income of political parties and their candidates are constitutionally valid?
If not, what are the appropriate disclosure requirements for maintaining transparency and accountability in the electoral process?
JUDGMENT
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, upheld the constitutional validity of the disclosure requirements for political parties and their candidates. However, the Court also emphasized the need for stricter and more comprehensive disclosure requirements to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The Court directed the ECI to revise the disclosure forms and guidelines to ensure that political parties and candidates provide detailed information about their assets, liabilities, sources of income, and any potential conflicts of interest. The Court also directed the ECI to consider introducing new disclosure requirements, such as reporting on the funding of political campaigns and the expenditure incurred on them.
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