Electoral Bonds Scheme Unconstitutional : Supreme Court- LIVE UPDATES

CJI : Union has been unable to establish the measure adopted in clause 7(4)(1) of the electoral scheme is the least restrictive measure.

CJI : Amendments to Income Tax Act provision and the Sec 29C of the Representation of Peoples Act are declared to be ultra vires.

#BREAKING CJI : Electoral bonds scheme has to be struck down as unconstitutional.

CJI : Right to privacy of political affiliation does not extend to contributions made to influence public policy and applies only to contributions below the threshold.

CJI: Not all political contributions are made with the intent to alter public policy. Students, daily wagers etc also contribute. To not grant umbrella of privacy to political contributions only because some contributions are made for other purposes is not impermissible.

CJI: Informational privacy applicable to political contributions too.

CJI : Financial contributions to political parties are made for two parties - for support to political party, or contribution may be way of quid pro quo.

CJI : Infringement to the right to information is not justified by the purpose of curbing black money.

CJI : Financial supports to political parties can lead to quid pro quo arrangement.

CJI : Electoral bonds scheme is not the only scheme to curb black money. There are other alternatives.

CJI : Political contributors get access...this access leads to policy making...because of nexus between money and voting...

#BREAKING Supreme Court holds that anonymous electoral bonds are violative of right to information and Article 19(1)(a)

CJI : Political parties are relevant units in the electoral process. Information about funding of political parties is essential for electoral choices.

CJI : On issue 1- Courts have held citizens have right to hold govt to account. Crucial aspect of expansion of right to information is that it is not confined to state affairs but also includes information necessary for participatory democracy.

CJI : Petitions raise following issues (a) Whether amendments are violative of right to information under Article 19(1)(a)

(b) Whether unlimited corproate funding violates principles of free and fair elections