Need to keep non-serious parties out of political system, says parliamentary panel | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Need to keep non-serious parties out of political system, says parliamentary panel

PTI, New Delhi | By
Apr 14, 2017 02:33 PM IST

The recommendation of the committee comes days after the Election Commission wrote to the income tax department asking it to look into the finances of 255 political parties.

There is a need to keep non-serious parties out of the political system, and to ensure they do not misuse facilities like tax exemption, their registration should be regulated by law, a parliamentary panel has said.

The recommendation of the committee comes days after the Election Commission wrote to the income tax department asking it to look into the finances of 255 political parties.(PTI File)
The recommendation of the committee comes days after the Election Commission wrote to the income tax department asking it to look into the finances of 255 political parties.(PTI File)

The recommendation of the committee comes days after the Election Commission wrote to the income tax department asking it to look into the finances of 255 political parties it has ‘delisted’ for not contesting elections.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The commission has, over a period of time, identified various parties which have not contested polls since 2005 and has ‘delisted’ 255 of them.

The poll panel believes that most of them exist on papers to help people convert their back money into white by accepting donations.

While the poll watchdog has the mandate to register a political party, it lacks power under electoral laws to deregister any party.

“The Committee is of the view that provisions relating to registration of political parties needs to be made more stringent so that non serious political parties are not able to register in the first place and if registered, their registration could be cancelled,” the parliamentary standing committee on Law and Personnel has said in it’s latest report tabled in the just-concluded Budget session.

The committee said the possibility of regulating registration of political parties and suspension/cancellation of their registration through a law should also be explored to “prevent misuse of facilities available to registered political parties by unscrupulous elements”.

As its demand to get power to deregister a party is pending with the law ministry, the commission uses its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to delist parties for being dormant and not contesting elections for a long time.

There are over 1,780 registered, but unrecognised political parties in the country.

Besides, there are seven national parties - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (M) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - and 58 State parties.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On