Public to get access to political parties’ income, expenditure info

From now on, general public will have access to income and expense statement of political parties from the Election Commission, the High Court ruled today.

The court delivered its verdict on a case where the election office refused to disburse information to a civil society platform Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan).

Bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo delivered the verdict in response to a writ petition by the Sujan. The full verdict is yet to be released.

                  - June 2013: Sujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder applied to the EC seeking info on annual income and expenditure of registered political parties.

                  - When EC refused to give info, Sujan moved the Information Commission with an appeal asking a directive on the election office.

                  - July 16, 2014: Information Commission rejects Sujan’s plea.

                  - January 2015: Sujan leaders Badiul, Syed Abul Maksud, M Hafiz Uddin Khan, SM Shahjahan and Ali Imam filed an appeal to the High Court against Information Commission’s decision.

According to the High Court verdict, now people can get any information from any public institution if they apply, Sharif Bhuyan, the petitioner’s council told reporters after the order.

The people’s right to get information has been established, he said.

After holding final hearing, the High Court today delivered the verdict. The grounds of the verdict could not be known as the full judgment was not released today.