News for 'Association for Democratic Reforms'

Electoral bonds: SC to hear SBI's plea and contempt petitions tomorrow

Electoral bonds: SC to hear SBI's plea and contempt petitions tomorrow

Rediff.com10 Mar 2024

The apex court bench, also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, will assemble at 10.30 am to hear the two petitions.

SC to hear SBI's plea on electoral bonds on Mar 11

SC to hear SBI's plea on electoral bonds on Mar 11

Rediff.com8 Mar 2024

The bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, will also hear a separate plea which has sought initiation of contempt action against the SBI alleging it "wilfully and deliberately" disobeyed the apex court's direction to submit details of the contributions made to political parties through electoral bonds to the Election Commission by March 6.

'Democracy is not a destination'

'Democracy is not a destination'

Rediff.com29 Mar 2024

'Democracy cannot be taken for granted. It has to be fiercely guarded.'

Complaint against 6 political parties for defying CIC order

Complaint against 6 political parties for defying CIC order

Rediff.com11 Dec 2013

The Association for Democratic Reforms has complained against six major political parties for not appointing Public Information Officers.

Singh Deo with Rs 447 cr richest candidate in Chhattisgarh polls 2nd phase

Singh Deo with Rs 447 cr richest candidate in Chhattisgarh polls 2nd phase

Rediff.com10 Nov 2023

The analysis of five candidates could not be completed as their affidavits are either badly scanned or complete affidavits are not uploaded on the Election Commission of India website, they said.

SC to hear electoral bonds, FCRA, bringing parties under RTI pleas separately

SC to hear electoral bonds, FCRA, bringing parties under RTI pleas separately

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said the petitions raise three separate issues and hence, the need to hear them separately.

83% of newly elected MLAs in Gujarat are crorepatis, says report

83% of newly elected MLAs in Gujarat are crorepatis, says report

Rediff.com11 Dec 2022

The study showed the ruling BJP has 132 crorepati MLAs, followed by 14 of the Congress, all three Independents, and one each of the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party.

At 17, BJP has maximum number of crorepatis in Tripura poll fray

At 17, BJP has maximum number of crorepatis in Tripura poll fray

Rediff.com8 Feb 2023

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has 17 crorepati candidates followed by Tipra Motha with nine and the Communist Party of India-Marxist seven, the report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a civil society organisation, said.

7 parties got 66% of their income from unknown sources: ADR

7 parties got 66% of their income from unknown sources: ADR

Rediff.com11 Mar 2023

The "unknown" sources are income declared in the annual audit report by these parties but without giving the source of income, according to the ADR.

SC to hear pleas against electoral bond scheme on December 6

SC to hear pleas against electoral bond scheme on December 6

Rediff.com22 Nov 2022

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will hear on December 6 the plea of a Congress leader challenging a recent notification by which the sale of electoral bonds has been extended by 15 more days in the year of general elections to legislative assemblies of states and Union territories (UTs) with a legislature.

No SC stay on new law excluding CJI from CEC, EC appointments

No SC stay on new law excluding CJI from CEC, EC appointments

Rediff.com13 Feb 2024

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued notice to the Centre on a plea filed by an NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms, and listed the matter along with other pending petitions on the issue for hearing in April.

Contempt plea against SBI for seeking more time for electoral bond names

Contempt plea against SBI for seeking more time for electoral bond names

Rediff.com7 Mar 2024

In its verdict last month, the top court directed the SBI to furnish the details to the Election Commission (EC) by March 6.

Constitution bench to hear electoral bonds matter from Oct 31

Constitution bench to hear electoral bonds matter from Oct 31

Rediff.com28 Oct 2023

A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court is scheduled to commence hearing from October 31 a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the electoral bond scheme for political funding of parties.

SC refuses to stay appointments of ECs under new law

SC refuses to stay appointments of ECs under new law

Rediff.com15 Mar 2024

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih told the petitioners, who pointed out that a meeting for the selection of ECs was pre-poned, to file a separate application pointing out the fact.

Should NOTA Be A Candidate?

Should NOTA Be A Candidate?

Rediff.com16 May 2024

'Rather than criticising the kind of candidates fielded by political parties from our living rooms, NOTA in a sense implores the electorate to say this by turning up in person at a polling booth to ensure their protest is registered.'

Nat'l parties got Rs 15K cr from unknown sources during 2004-21 period: Report

Nat'l parties got Rs 15K cr from unknown sources during 2004-21 period: Report

Rediff.com26 Aug 2022

The total income of national and regional parties from unknown sources for 2020-21 stands at Rs 690.67 crore.

Will create chaos: SC refuses to stay appointment of new election commissioners

Will create chaos: SC refuses to stay appointment of new election commissioners

Rediff.com21 Mar 2024

The bench said it was not questioning the credentials of the election commissioners appointed but the procedure.

SC strikes down electoral bonds as 'unconstitutional', orders disclosure of donors

SC strikes down electoral bonds as 'unconstitutional', orders disclosure of donors

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

In a landmark judgment that delivered a big blow to the government, the Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the electoral bonds scheme, saying it violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression as well as the right to information.

DK Shivakumar, Congress's go-to man in times of crises

DK Shivakumar, Congress's go-to man in times of crises

Rediff.com13 May 2023

Teary-eyed Congress leader D K Shivakumar on Saturday briefly belied the combative force he is for the Congress party, not just in the just concluded 2023 assembly polls, but on several crucial occasions in the past when his party needed him.

44% MLAs across India have criminal cases: Report

44% MLAs across India have criminal cases: Report

Rediff.com15 Jul 2023

In Kerala, 95 out of 135 MLAs, accounting for 70 per cent, have declared criminal cases against themselves.

42% ministers of Modi sarkar have criminal cases

42% ministers of Modi sarkar have criminal cases

Rediff.com9 Jul 2021

About 24 or 31 per cent ministers have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, robbery etc.

SC rejects plea for replacing party symbols on EVMs with candidates' info

SC rejects plea for replacing party symbols on EVMs with candidates' info

Rediff.com1 Nov 2022

A bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi said a representation may be made by petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay to the poll panel or other authorities for consideration.

'Every political party in K'taka is taking a shortcut'

'Every political party in K'taka is taking a shortcut'

Rediff.com15 Apr 2013

Professor Sastry says in this interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa that every political party appears to be taking a shortcut and hence there is so much criminlisation in politics.

BJP tops with Rs 1917-cr income in FY22, TMC second at Rs 546 cr: Report

BJP tops with Rs 1917-cr income in FY22, TMC second at Rs 546 cr: Report

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

The BJP declared a total income of Rs 1917.12 crore during 2021-22 and spent Rs 854.467 crore or 44.57 per cent of it.

ADR backs EC's unaccounted cash stand in Gujarat

ADR backs EC's unaccounted cash stand in Gujarat

Rediff.com19 Oct 2012

The Association for Democratic Reforms, an non-government organisation working for electoral reforms, while supporting Election Commission's order to seize unaccounted cash in poll-bound states, has noted that legitimate business transactions based on cash should not suffer.

Will SC's Constitution bench bat for transparency in electoral bonds scheme?

Will SC's Constitution bench bat for transparency in electoral bonds scheme?

Rediff.com30 Oct 2023

A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court is scheduled to commence a crucial hearing from Tuesday on a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties.

EC rejects demand for filing affidavits by Prez candidates

EC rejects demand for filing affidavits by Prez candidates

Rediff.com20 Jun 2012

The Election Commission has rejected a demand to make mandatory the filing of affidavits by candidates in the Presidential poll disclosing their assets and criminal record, if any.

Poll-bound Himachal has 69 candidates with criminal cases

Poll-bound Himachal has 69 candidates with criminal cases

Rediff.com26 Oct 2012

Out of the 69 candidates with declared criminal cases, 30 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, reports Vicky Nanjappa

57 criminals, 134 crorepatis in 2012 Guj assembly

57 criminals, 134 crorepatis in 2012 Guj assembly

Rediff.com25 Dec 2012

There are 57 members with criminal background, one with even charges of rape, and 134 crorepatis (74 per cent) in the newly-elected Gujarat assembly, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-political group aiming at governmental and electoral reforms. Vicky Nanjappa reports.

NGO in fight for info on I-T returns of MPs, MLAs

NGO in fight for info on I-T returns of MPs, MLAs

Rediff.com22 Nov 2012

A hearing on making the income tax returns of members of Parliament public was held on Thursday at the Central Information Commission premises in New Delhi.

'No one knows who funds the BJP'

'No one knows who funds the BJP'

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

'Who has given how much money to which party, the people of India must know this fact.'

Protest is a tool in hands of civil society like strike a weapon of workers: SC

Protest is a tool in hands of civil society like strike a weapon of workers: SC

Rediff.com10 Nov 2022

A bench of justices S Abdul Nazeer and V Ramasubramanian said the Kerala Police Act was the successor legislation of certain police enactments of the colonial era which aimed at scuttling the democratic aspirations of the indigenous population.

At 1,662 cr, Cong leads with corporate donations

At 1,662 cr, Cong leads with corporate donations

Rediff.com10 Aug 2012

When a senior minister in Uttar Pradesh makes a statement such as 'steal a little, but don't loot', then this bit of data regarding corporate donations to political parties in the past three years would be interesting to take note of. Vicky Nanjappa reports.

At least 22 UP ministers face criminal cases: ADR

At least 22 UP ministers face criminal cases: ADR

Rediff.com27 Mar 2022

Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and the ADR have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 45 of the total 53 ministers, including the chief minister.

If Modi Wants A Full Term...

If Modi Wants A Full Term...

Rediff.com17 Jun 2024

It will be in Modi's interest to reinvent his party, read the writing on the wall that voters wrote, and move ahead. He has little choice now. The country is watching, asserts Ramesh Menon.

'BJP Has 6,000 Crores To Spend On Elections'

'BJP Has 6,000 Crores To Spend On Elections'

Rediff.com19 Apr 2024

'Not even a single rupee from the electoral bonds should be allowed to be used in the election.' 'If it is used in the election, it will taint India's electoral process itself.'

Gujarat polls: 330 candidates face criminal cases, AAP tops list, says report

Gujarat polls: 330 candidates face criminal cases, AAP tops list, says report

Rediff.com28 Nov 2022

The Aam Aadmi Party tops the list with 61 such candidates.

Survey shows 1,460 criminal MPs and MLAs in the country

Survey shows 1,460 criminal MPs and MLAs in the country

Rediff.com10 Jul 2013

The Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a landmark verdict with regard to convicted MPs and MLAs. The judgment has ruled that a convicted elected representative cannot continue in office and the conviction will lead to instant disqualification of the elected representative. The judgement is important considering the fact that India has 1,460 sitting MP's and MLA's with a criminal background.

'EVM Is Useless As The Black Glass Helps Manipulation'

'EVM Is Useless As The Black Glass Helps Manipulation'

Rediff.com29 Apr 2024

'After a month of working on the new machine, I realised that the black glass on the VVPAT lets the programmer manipulate not just the electronic system, but the paper vote too.' 'And it will not be detected even during the mock poll or the actual voting because of the black glass.'

42pc K'taka ministers have crime record, 75pc crorepatis

42pc K'taka ministers have crime record, 75pc crorepatis

Rediff.com5 Apr 2013

About 42 per cent ministers in Karnataka self-declared criminal cases pending against them in their affidavits filed during the last held assembly elections in 2008.