Ensuring free and fair elections, democratic governance, and limiting quid pro quo demands political funding regulations that go beyond the age-old methods.
Striking down the bond scheme on 15 February, the court had ordered the bank to furnish details of purchasers and redeemers by 6 March. The bank wanted time till 30 June.
For the Supreme Court to bless the SBI’s plea for an extension in electoral bonds case until 30 June would be tantamount to stamping on the spirit of democracy while performing its rituals.
The issues raised by the SBI do not appear to be germane to the Supreme Court’s direction. The court’s directions brook no ambiguity: furnish information from record.
Given its predicted loss, India’s opposition now will have the luxury of time to create a new, simpler, low-tech, face-to-face, patient politics that is not dependent on big money or even expensive data.
Electoral bonds are now set to bring transparency in political funding, but not in the way Arun Jaitley had claimed. The real deal will be when SBI reveals details of who donated how much to which political party.
Justice Khanna was among 5 SC judges who struck down Electoral Bond Scheme. In his opinion, he questioned Centre's claim that scheme aimed to protect donors from retaliation, retribution.
Peter Manuel's ‘Cassette Culture’ showed the booming Bhakti music during the '80s and '90s when Anoop Jalota, Gulshan Kumar achieved success by singing the sanitised Bhajans.
Economists say there are weaknesses in India’s GDP data. But statisticians claim the accusations are based on flawed understanding, saying while GDP has problems, the economists are looking in the wrong places.
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