Delhi HC issues notices to Union Govt. and ECI on a petition filed by ADR to monitor election expenditure of political parties

Delhi HC issues notices to Union Govt. and ECI  on a petition filed by ADR
to monitor election expenditure of political parties

The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Government of India and Election Commission of India (ECI) to file their replies on a petition regarding regulation and monitoring of the election expenditure of political parties. The next date for hearing is 28^th of August 2014.

The petition, filed by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), requests for a process of regular submission of election expenditure statements by political parties commencing a year prior to the actual polling date till the results are declared. As has been observed in the recently concluded Lok sabha elections, political parties start their campaigning much before the polls.

Since presently there is no limit on the election expenditure of political parties, it is very difficult to ascertain the actual amount of money spent during the election campaign. The current practice of submitting election expenditure statements after 75 and 90 days of elections for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, respectively, serv​es​​ no purpose because monitoring and keeping a tab on the election expenditure after 75/90 days is a herculean task.

The key recommendations made by ADR in the petition are: 

1. Implement the recommendation made by the 170^th Law Commission Report on Electoral Reforms, with regards to the financial accountability of the Political Parties. 
2. Introduce ceiling on the election expenditure of political parties, on and during the elections. 
3. Direct the political parties to submit expenditure statements, beginning one year prior to the elections. 
4. Direct the political parties to submit the account statements of income and expenditure, periodically, ie. once a month before the declaration of the election, and at least once a week during the elections.

​Regards,​

Media and Journalist Helpline +91 80103 94248 Email: adr@adrindia.org

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Anil Verma Head National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms 011 4165 4200, +91 88264 79910 adr@adrIndia.org, anilverma@adrindia.org

Prof. Jagdeep Chhokar IIM Ahmedabad (Retd.) Founder Member, National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms +91 99996 20944 jchhokar@gmail.com

Prof. Trilochan Sastry IIM Bangalore Founder Member, National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms +91 94483 53285 trilochans@iimb.ernet.in

Association for Democratic Reforms

“Kiwanis Centre”, 4th Floor,

B-35, Qutub Institutional Area

(Near Rockland Hospital)

New Delhi-110 016

This is a very good move.

The BJP in the last elections has crossed all limits in expenditure.

Some say it could have crossed Rs 10000 crores.

Daily, everywhere we moved we just saw Modi's picture or voice.

Newspapers, magazines,,Radio, TV, whatever the media, only Modi's propaganda and face was visible.

Further, if you add the spent in Air either in Airplane or helicopter by Modi and Amit Shah, it may even cross Rs 10000 crores.

This is how criminals of political parties are elected and honest, educated and qualified candidates of AAP lost.