Anonymous donations to political parties — SC 2025
Quick Reply: Political parties remain public authorities; anonymous donation records disclosable under §4 read with RPA 1951. Post-Electoral-Bonds, anonymous party donations.
Supreme Court of India · 2025-03-08 · (2025) 4 SCC 1 · ★ Landmark
Political parties remain public authorities; anonymous donation records disclosable under §4 read with RPA 1951. Post-Electoral-Bonds, anonymous party donations.
Post-Electoral-Bonds, anonymous party donations return to transparent RTI regime.
Case details
| Court | Supreme Court of India |
|---|---|
| Decided | 2025-03-08 |
| Citation | (2025) 4 SCC 1 |
| Bench | Sanjiv Khanna CJ, R. Mahadevan J |
| Petitioner | Common Cause |
| Respondent | Union of India |
| RTI Act sections | §2(h) |
| Outcome | Applicant allowed |
Outcome
Political parties remain public authorities; anonymous donation records disclosable under §4 read with RPA 1951.
Ratio decidendi
Following the February 2024 strike-down of the Electoral Bonds Scheme, the anonymity protection disappeared. Recognized national and state political parties, being §2(h) public authorities per the 2013 CIC Full Bench, must now disclose donor records under §4(1)(b) read with Section 29C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 for donations above the threshold.
Keywords
political parties, section 2(h), Electoral Bonds, donations, RPA 1951
Similar cases in the corpus
- ADR v. Union of India (Electoral Bonds) (SC 2024)
- Political party accounts — Kerala HC 2015 (HC-KER 2015)
- Post-ADR Electoral Bonds — RTI sequel (CIC 2024)
- Electoral roll copies — CIC (CIC 2016)
Related
Editorial summary, not a certified report. The ratio here is an editorial compression. Before citing this ruling in a PIO order, FAA speaking order, or any appellate filing, verify against the full reported decision. RTI Wiki is not a legal service.
Editorial summary · last reviewed 21 April 2026.