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+{{htmlmetatags>
+metatag-keywords=(political party rti, electoral bonds rti, eci rti, six national parties rti, cic 2013 full bench)
+metatag-description=(Practical framework for PIOs in political parties + Election Commission — the 2013 CIC Full Bench order making 6 national parties subject to RTI, Electoral Bonds (2018-2024) legacy, and the disclosure framework for political-party finances.)
+}}
+====== Political party RTI — CIC 2013 Full Bench; Election Commission overlay; Electoral Bonds legacy (2026) ======
+{{ :social:auto:pio-political-party-rti.png?direct&1200 }}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+<WRAP info>
+Political party RTI is a unique area. The Central Information Commission Full Bench order (2013) brought 6 national parties (BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI, CPI-M) within the definition of "public authority" under §2(h). The Supreme Court has not overturned this; political parties have largely refused compliance. The Electoral Bonds matter (struck down 2024) revealed the gap and intensified accountability arguments.
+</WRAP>
+===== Statutory framework =====
+RTI Act §2(h) "public authority"; CIC Full Bench Order 2013; SC: ADR cases, Electoral Bonds judgment 2024; ECI handbook + party finance norms.
+===== Key principles =====
+  * CIC 2013 Full Bench: 6 national parties are "public authorities" per §2(h).
+  * Parties have largely not complied — file RTI applications go unanswered.
+  * Election Commission as PIO for party-registration data is fully under RTI.
+  * Party finances (donations, expenses) — accountability framework strong.
+  * Electoral Bonds (2018-2024): SC struck down on transparency grounds.
+  * 2024 Electoral Bonds judgment data publicly disclosed by ECI.
+  * Internal party operations (manifesto drafting, candidate selection) generally exempt.
+===== Decision framework =====
+  - **Identify the request category** — Party financial / candidate selection / ECI registration / electoral bonds?
+  - **Apply CIC 2013 Full Bench framework** — For 6 national parties: subject to RTI as PA.
+  - **Apply ECI as PIO for registration data** — Most party-related data accessible via ECI.
+  - **For electoral bonds, apply SC 2024** — Public disclosure mandatory; data already published.
+  - **Apply §10 severability** — Operational decisions exempt; financial transparency disclosable.
+  - **Issue speaking order** — Cite CIC 2013 + relevant SC rulings.
+===== Template =====
+<code>
+To: [Applicant Name]
+Subject: Reply to RTI [____] — Political party / electoral records
+Sir/Madam,
+Your application sought records related to [specific party / electoral matter]. The framework applied:
+POLITICAL PARTY AS PUBLIC AUTHORITY:
+Per CIC Full Bench Order 2013, 6 national parties (BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI, CPI-M) are "public authorities" under §2(h). [If applicable to this office]: This office is subject to RTI; specific records sought are addressed below.
+ECI-HELD DATA:
+The Election Commission, as the regulator, holds:
+- Party registration data: disclosed.
+- Annual contribution disclosures (Form 24A): disclosed (publicly available).
+- Election expenditure returns: disclosed.
+- Contribution lists from political parties: disclosed.
+ELECTORAL BONDS DATA (post-2024 SC judgment):
+Per Supreme Court judgment on Electoral Bonds (struck down February 2024), historical bond data is publicly disclosed via SBI + ECI websites. This data is fully accessible.
+PARTY INTERNAL OPERATIONS:
+Internal manifesto drafting, candidate-selection deliberations, organizational matters: case-specific exemption under §8(1)(i) [deliberative process]. Specific portions disclosed where post-decision public-interest applies.
+FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY (ANNUAL REPORTS):
+Annual party reports + Audit + Income Tax returns: disclosed per public-interest accountability.
+DPDP §44(3) IMPACT (donor data):
+For individual donor data, balance under §8(1)(j) + DPDP §44(3) — large donors (>Rs 25,000): disclosed per ECI norms. Smaller individual donations: case-specific.
+Section 10 severability throughout.
+Yours faithfully,
+[Name, Designation, PIO]
+</code>
+===== Illustrations =====
+==== BJP's annual contribution report 2023-24 ====
+Disclosed via ECI; party itself subject to RTI per CIC 2013.
+==== Electoral Bonds purchaser list pre-2024 ====
+Publicly disclosed per SC 2024 judgment.
+==== Specific candidate selection process for 2024 election ====
+Internal deliberation: exempt §8(1)(i). Post-decision: case-specific.
+==== Party expenditure report under §29C ====
+Filed with ECI; disclosed.
+==== Donations by individual donors below Rs 25,000 ====
+Aggregate disclosed; specific identifying data case-specific per §8(1)(j).
+==== Manifesto drafting committee minutes ====
+Pre-decision: exempt §8(1)(i). Post-publication: case-specific.
+===== Case law anchors =====
+  * **CIC Full Bench Order 2013** — 6 national parties = public authorities per §2(h).
+  * **Subhash Chandra Agarwal v CPIO (SC 2019)** — Accountability framework extended to political institutions.
+  * **Electoral Bonds judgment (SC Feb 2024)** — Donor-anonymity scheme struck down on transparency grounds.
+  * **ADR v %%UoI%% series (1999-2024)** — Election Commission disclosure framework.
+  * **CIC, Re: Various party RTIs (2013-2024)** — Pattern of party non-compliance + ICs ordering disclosure.
+===== Common mistakes =====
+  * Refusing all party RTIs — violates CIC 2013 Full Bench.
+  * Treating party finances as commercially confidential — wrong; accountability dominates.
+  * Withholding ECI-held data — accessible via ECI directly.
+  * Refusing electoral bonds data — already publicly disclosed post-2024 SC ruling.
+  * Failing to recognize 2024 SC Electoral Bonds judgment changed framework.
+  * Generic refusal without §10 severability application.
+===== Pro tips =====
+  * Maintain list of 6 national parties + their PIO contacts.
+  * For party-related queries, parallel-file with ECI for fastest result.
+  * Train party PIOs on CIC 2013 Full Bench compliance.
+  * For electoral bonds queries, redirect to public SBI/ECI data.
+  * For donor data, prepare anonymized aggregate templates.
+  * For internal-deliberation queries, document decision-status carefully for §8(1)(i) application.
+===== FAQs =====
+==== Are state political parties also under RTI? ====
+CIC 2013 covers 6 national parties. State parties: separate question; some state ICs have ruled similarly.
+==== Can I get a candidate's asset declaration? ====
+Disclosed via ECI under §29A. Public record.
+==== Internal candidate selection — exempt? ====
+Pre-decision: exempt §8(1)(i). Post-announcement: case-specific.
+==== Party's position on a policy? ====
+Public statements: yes. Internal deliberation: exempt.
+==== Electoral bonds data after Feb 2024? ====
+Publicly disclosed; ECI + SBI websites have all historical data.
+===== Related reading =====
+  * [[:pio-faa-knowledge-base|pio faa knowledge base]]
+  * [[:pio-supreme-court-rulings|pio supreme court rulings]]
+  * [[:pio-faa-knowledge-base|pio section 8 1 i cabinet papers]]
+  * [[:act:section-2|act/section-2]]
+  * [[:citizen-rti-playbook|rti for political parties]]
+===== Sources =====
+RTI Act §2(h); CIC Full Bench Order 2013; SC Electoral Bonds judgment Feb 2024; ECI handbook on party finance; ADR case series.
+//Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.//
+{{tag>pio-faa pio rti-act-2005 pio-political-party-rti}}

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