The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to six national political parties including the Congress and the BJP on a PIl by Association of Democratic Rights that has demanded all political outfits to be brought under the ambit of RTI.The Court also sought responses of the Election Commission and Centre on the petition to declare all national and regional political parties “public authorities” amenable under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice Hl Dattu issued notice on ADR’s petition argued by advocate Prashant Bhushan who said that political parties must declare all donations, even those below Rs20,000.He referred to an earlier order passed by Central Information Commission seeking donation details, against which the Indian National Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) have filed appeals in the Supreme Court.“Political parties do not have to pay the Income-Tax on the donations,” Bhushan said indicating that the political parties control the legislature and law-making process, thus making them accountable.