A bench of Delhi High
Court comprising of justices Sanjay Kishen Kaul and Indermeet Kaur
today, on 10th of January 2013, heard the arguments
of a PIL that has alleged that
the two political parties namely Indian National Congress (INC)
and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)have violated the
Representation
of People’s Act (RPA) 1951 and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act
(FCRA) by taking donations from government companies
and foreign sources, which is prohibited under both the legislations.
Petitioners of the PIL
a) Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
b) Dr. EAS Sarma, former secretary to the Government of India
Grounds of the PIL
a)
INC and the BJP have violated Section 29B of the Representation of
People’s Act 1951, which categorically prohibits them to take donations
from government companies and from any foreign source
b) The donation of huge sums
of money made by the Vedanta Group (being a foreign company) to major
political parties like INC and BJP is in clear violation of the FCR Act
of 1976 and the FCR Act of 2010.
c) The donation of huge sums
of money by the public sector undertakings (who are also State within
Article 12 of the Constitution) to the political parties is in violation
of Section 293A of the Companies Act.
BJP and INC have confessed to the foreign funding
Both BJP
and INC have themselves declared, in their annual contribution reports
submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI), that they have
received funding from the Vedanta Group, which is a foreign company
listed on London Stock Exchange under the name “Vedanta Resources PLC”.
Court has asked Centre and ECI
After hearing the petitioners,
Delhi High Court has asked the Central Government (Home Ministry) and
Election Commission of India (ECI) to file their responses within 2
weeks. Court has also said that the two political parties, INC and BJP,
will be called upon to respond only after going through the responses of
the Home Ministry and ECI. The next date of hearing in the matter has
been set as 4th February 2013.
Thanks & Regards
Media and
Journalist Helpline
+91 80103 94248
Email: adr@adrindia.org
|
Prof. Jagdeep Chhokar
(Founder Member, ADR)
M: +919999620944
|
Mr. Anil Bairwal (National Coordinator,
ADR)
M: +91
8010394248,
+91 9999310100
|
Prof. Trilochan Sastry
(Founder Member, ADR)
M: +919448353285
|
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