Electoral Bonds And The Right To Know: Judicial Scrutiny Of Political Funding In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Sep 22
- 1 min read
Priyanka Prashar, LLM, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, India
ABSTRACT
This paper introduced by the Government of India in 2017 and its constitutional implications on transparency in political funding. Designed as an instrument to curb black money and formalize donations through banking channels, the scheme, however, enabled anonymous contributions to political parties, raising concerns over opacity and corporate influence in electoral processes. Anchored in the constitutional guarantee of the Right to Know under Article 19(1)(a), this study explores judicial scrutiny of the scheme, Supreme Court judgment of February 2024, which struck down electoral bonds as unconstitutional. The judgment reaffirmed that transparency in political financing is central to democratic accountability and free and fair elections. Through an analysis of statutory amendments, judicial precedents, and comparative international practices, this paper proposes systematic changes in political funding laws to ensure a balance between donor privacy and citizens’ right to information. The findings highlight the need for an institutionalized framework for election financing, greater disclosure norms, and active oversight by constitutional bodies to safeguard the integrity of India’s democratic process.
Keywords: Electoral Bonds, Political Funding, Right to Know, Article 19(1)(a), Judicial Scrutiny, Supreme Court of India, Electoral Transparency, Constitutional Law, Corporate Donations, Election Commission of India
