Supreme Court Seeks Election Commission of India’s Reply to PIL Seeking Registration and Regulation of Political Parties
Plea Highlights Threat from Bogus Parties Involved in Black Money Laundering, Calls for Transparency and Accountability Measures
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition that seeks directions for framing rules to register and regulate political parties, ensuring secularism, transparency, and political justice. The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed the petitioner, Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay, to implead all national political parties recognized by the ECI, noting the importance of their inclusion given the petition’s regulatory demands.
The plea arose from recent Income Tax raids during July–August 2025, which exposed several bogus political parties, including the Indian Social Party, Yuva Bharat Atma Nirbhar Dal, and National Sarva Samaj Party, accused of converting black money into white through hawala transactions worth hundreds of crores. These entities reportedly do not participate in elections but act as channels for money laundering, illegal funding, and appointing criminals and anti-social elements as office-bearers, thereby undermining democratic processes.
Despite constitutional protections under the Tenth Schedule and statutory recognition in Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, the petition emphasizes the lack of comprehensive laws regulating the internal functioning, transparency, and accountability of political parties. Political parties also enjoy various State-conferred benefits such as tax exemptions and free media airtime, which heightens the need for regulatory oversight.
The plea seeks judicial directives for the ECI to frame clear registration and regulatory rules, legislative intervention by the Union government for comprehensive laws governing party functioning, and strict measures to curb the misuse of parties for corruption and criminalization.
This Supreme Court notice signals judicial attention on strengthening democratic integrity and ensuring political parties operate transparently, discouraging unlawful financial practices and criminal links within the political machinery.