LawLoveLegal

Balancing Political Funding and Donor Privacy in India Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar recently addressed the pressing need to balance transparency in political funding with the protection of donor privacy, especially in light of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Electoral Bond Scheme. The decision by the apex court to strike down the scheme, which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties, has brought forth crucial questions regarding the disclosure of political donations and the privacy rights of donors. Legal Framework: The legal framework governing political funding in India encompasses various laws and regulations aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability. Key among these is the Representation of the People Act, of 1951, which governs the conduct of elections and mandates the disclosure of election expenses by candidates and political parties. Additionally, the Finance Act, of 2017, introduced the Electoral Bond Scheme, providing a mechanism for ...