SC to examine plea for political parties publishing their memorandum, rules on their websites
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New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court said on Monday it will issue certain directions following a plea urging the Election Commission to ensure that every political party publishes its memorandum, rules and regulations on its website.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and Joymalya Bagchi, which issued notice to the Centre and the Election Commission (EC) on an application filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, said, “Unless there are very strong impediments, we would like to issue certain directions”.
The bench asked Upadhyay, who appeared in-person, to remind the court about it on the next date of hearing.
The top court also told Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, that the petition has some “meaningful prayers” and asked him to seek instructions from the EC on the issues raised in the plea.
The interlocutory application filed by Upadhyay on his pending PIL sought direction to the poll panel to ensure that every political party publishes its memorandum, rules and regulations on the home page of its official website and place the compliance report before the court.
It also sought a direction to the EC to ensure that every political party follows its memorandum, rules and regulations in letter and spirit of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act and place compliance reports before the court.
On September 12, the top court agreed to examine the plea seeking a direction to the poll panel to frame rules for registration and regulation of political parties to promote secularism, transparency and political justice.
It had issued notice to the Centre, ECI and the Law Commission of India on a plea filed by Upadhyay.
Upadhyay's main plea alleged that "bogus political parties" not only posed a serious threat to democracy but also maligned the country by appointing hardcore criminals, kidnappers, drug smugglers and money launderers as national and state office bearers after taking huge amounts of money from them.
"There are no rules and regulations for political parties. Therefore, many separatists have formed their political party to collect donations. Some office bearers of these parties have succeeded in getting police protection also," the plea said.
Referring to a recent media report, the plea has claimed the income tax department found a "fake" political party that was "converting black money into white by deducting 20 per cent commission".
"Transparency and accountability in the working of political parties are essential in public interest as they perform public function and, therefore, ECI must frame rules and regulations for them," the plea, filed through lawyer Ashwani Kumar Dubey, said.
It has said the apex court has initiated various reforms to bring transparency and probity in public life.
''The move to regulate political parties within the ambit of the Constitution would pave the way for robust democratic functioning," it has said.
Alternatively, the plea sought a direction to the Law Commission of India to examine the best practices of developed democratic countries and prepare a comprehensive report on registration and regulation of political parties to reduce corruption and criminalisation in politics.
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Karnataka government employees demand return of Old Pension Scheme
Bengaluru: Government employees in Karnataka have urged the state government to scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and bring back the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), The New Indian Express reported.
The demand was made by the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, whose leaders met senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan on Monday and submitted a memorandum. The association asked the NPS Review Committee, headed by senior IAS officer Anjum Parvez, to recommend the reintroduction of OPS in the state.
Association president C.S. Shadakshari reportedly said the review committee has already visited Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where NPS was revoked and OPS re-implemented. The committee is yet to submit its report, but has told the government it will do so soon.
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Shadakshari allegedly said NPS has been in force in Karnataka since 2006. He pointed out that West Bengal never adopted the scheme, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana replaced NPS with a contributory pension model.
States including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jharkhand have already scrapped NPS through cabinet decisions or budget announcements.
“Under NPS, 10% of the employees’ basic salary and DA, and 14% contribution from the state is credited to the employees’ fund. It constitutes 24% of the total which is non-withdrawable. This is invested in the share market and the final amount depends on the ups and downs of the market,” TNIE quoted Shadakshar as saying.
As per the report, he said that by limiting its contribution to 14%, the government could save up to ₹1.87 lakh crore annually if all vacancies are filled, strengthening the case for bringing back the old pension system.
