It's our 50th episode! And we are looking at a thoroughly unconstitutional affair: electoral bonds! This episode of The Longest Constitution looks into how in the name of transparency, the BJP government introduced unaccountable crores into Indian elections. We also look at other sinister matters, such as 69A of the IT Act which allows the government to block public access to an intermediary. Finally, we continue with our slow and steady study of the PIL and how it led to the Supreme Court turning into an order-passing institution, rather than following its constitutional mandate of interpreting the Constitution.

On electoral bonds:

1. https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/11/25/electoral-bonds-safeguards-of-indian-democracy-are-crumbling-pub-80428

2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/power-to-the-rich-india-needs-to-talk-about-money-in-politics/story-fIX0iZ32V7bzkMlZIP6xlK.html

3. https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/electoral-bonds-delhi-elections-rti_in_5e44eafcc5b62b85f82eac4d

On 69A, IT Act, 2000

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dowry-calculator-satirical-website-block-delhi-high-court-centre-7921354/

2. https://internetfreedom.in/delhi-hc-issues-notice-to-the-government-for-blocking-satirical-dowry-calculator-website/

3. https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/all-about-section-69a-of-it-act-under-which-twitter-had-withheld-several-posts-accounts/597367/

On PIL and environmental litigation

1. Baviskar, Amita, 2006, “Rethinking Indian Environmentalism Industrial Pollution in Delhi and Fisheries in Kerala, in (ed), Forging Environmentalism

2. Justice, Livelihood, and Contested Environments, New York: ME Sharpe.

3. Divan, Shyam and Armin Rosencraz, (ed) (2001), Environmental law and policy in India, New Delhi: OUP. Chapter 13.

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