Association for Democratic Reforms

ADR came into existence in 1999 when a group of Professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad {{cite news | url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/professors-work-a-movement-to-cleanse-election-process-113121300023_1.html | title= Professors @ work: A movement to cleanse election process | first=Mayank | last=Mishra | date=13 December 2013 | newspaper=Business Standard | access-date=28 September 2019}} filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Delhi High Court regarding the disclosure of the criminal, financial, and educational background of the candidates contesting elections. The PIL was upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2000,{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/DELHI_HIGH_COURT_JUDGEMENT_NOVEMBER_2000.pdf|title=Delhi High Court's Judgement. AIR(2001) Delhi 126,2000 SCC Online DEL 836|accessdate=19 March 2024}} but the Government of India appealed to the Supreme Court of India against the High Court judgment. However, in 2002{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/Supreme_Court's_judgement_2nd_May_2002.pdf|title=Supreme Court's Judgement. (2002) 5 SCC 294, AIR 2002 SC 2112|accessdate=19 March 2024}} and subsequently in 2003,{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/Supreme_Court's_judgement_13th_March_2003.pdf|title=Supreme Court's Judgement.AIR 2003 SC 2363,(2003)2 SCR 1136, MANU/SC/0234/2003|accessdate=19 March 2024}} the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all the candidates contesting elections to disclose their criminal, financial, and educational background prior to the polls by filing an affidavit with the Election Commission of India.

ADR was co-founded by Trilochan Sastry, Jagdeep S. Chhokar, Ajit Ranade, and others.{{cite web|title=Who We Are|url=https://adrindia.org/who-we-are|website=adrindia.org|publisher=Association for Democratic Reforms|access-date=20 September 2017}} It is headed by Maj. Gen. Anil Verma (Retd.).{{cite web|title=Our Team|url=https://adrindia.org/who-we-are/our-tea|website=adrindia.org|publisher=Association for Democratic Reforms|access-date=20 September 2017}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Mr. Jaskirat Singh{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Punjab Inc: Meet this IT whiz from Ludhiana with a soft spot for environment |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-inc-it-whiz-ludhiana-8894906/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Vipul Mudgal{{Cite news |last=Baruah |first=Amit |date=2024-04-08 |title=How is India faring in the battle against corruption {{!}} In Focus podcast |url=https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/how-is-india-faring-in-the-battle-against-corruption-in-focus-podcast/article68042437.ece |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} and others are the trustees.

The objective of ADR is to improve governance and strengthen democracy through continuous work in the area of Electoral and Political Reforms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-national-election-watch-association-for-democratic-reforms-urge-narendra-modi-to-keep-his-word-on-clean-governance-1990967|title=National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms urge Narendra Modi to keep his word on 'clean' governance|website=DNA India|accessdate=19 March 2024}} They focus on:

- Advocating against corruption and criminalisation in the Political Process

- Empowerment of the electorate through greater dissemination of information relating to the candidates and the parties, for a better and informed choice

- Need for greater accountability of Indian Political Parties

- Need for inner-party democracy and transparency in party-functioning

Election Watch:{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/research-and-reports/election-watch|title = Election Watch | Association for Democratic Reforms}} Election Watch is the flagship program of ADR. Since 2002, National Election Watch (NEW) and ADR have been conducting Election Watches across the country. As part of this program, affidavits of candidates contesting elections are minutely examined and citizens are provided with information about their background details to help them make an informed choice. The Election Watch has so far collated data of about 1,82,108{{Cite web|url=http://www.myneta.info/|title=MyNeta {{!}} Candidate Affidavits for Elections in India {{!}} Criminal, Financial, Educational, Income, Professon Details of candidates MPs & MLAs {{!}} Information from ADR and National Election Watch|website=www.myneta.info|access-date=2019-05-15}} candidates which can be accessed easily on www.myneta.info.

Election Expenses of MPs and MLAs: ADR analyses the election expenses declared by elected representatives and the data is released to the media/citizens.

Register of Members’ Interest of Rajya Sabha: ADR also analyses the Register of Members’ Interest of the Rajya Sabha, which was brought into the public domain in June 2011 after ADR’s two-year-long RTI battle. The report contains information regarding remunerative directorship, shareholding of controlling nature, regular remunerative activity, paid consultancy, and professional engagement of the Rajya Sabha members.

Political Party Watch (PPW):{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/research-and-report/political-party-watch|title = Political Party Watch | Association for Democratic Reforms}} ADR’s PPW program is aimed at bringing more transparency and accountability to the functioning of political parties. In 2008, based on an appeal filed by ADR, the Central Information Commission (CIC) declared that the Income Tax Returns of political parties should be made available in the public domain by the IT Department.{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/CIC-Political%20Parties%20Income%20Tax%20Returns.pdf|title=Central Information Commission|accessdate=19 March 2024}}

ADR has analyzed the IT returns of all National and Regional parties of India whose ITR details are available in the public domain, from FY 2002-03 till date. An analysis of their Income Tax returns and donations statements filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) shows that the sources remain largely unknown. ADR analyses the sources of funding of National and Regional political parties. Between FY 2004-05 and FY 2014-15, ADR analyzed sources of funding{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-sources-funding-national-and-regional-parties-fy-2004-05-2014-15|title=Analysis of Sources of Funding of National and Regional Parties- FY 2004-05 to 2014-15 {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-08}} for 6 National and 51 Regional political parties.

Contribution Reports of Political Parties: Under this program, the contributions reports of political parties containing information about the receipt of donations by corporate houses{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-donations-corporates-business-houses-national-parties-fy-2012-13-2015-16-known|title=Analysis of Donations from Corporates & Business Houses to National Parties - FY 2012-13 to 2015-16 (Known donations above Rs 20,000 only) {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-08}} and individuals above Rs 20,000, are analyzed.

Contribution Reports of Electoral Trusts: Apart from individuals and companies, there are electoral trusts which contribute the most to National parties and a few Regional parties. The details of contributions received by the Electoral Trusts and the details of donations given by the Trust to political parties are analyzed for the period between FY 2013-14 to FY 2017-18.{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-contribution-reports-electoral-trusts-fy-2017-18|title=Analysis of Contribution reports of Electoral trusts - FY 2017-18 {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-08}}

Election Expenditure of Political Parties expenditure declared by various political parties after Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adrindia.org/research-and-report/political-party-watch/combined-reports/2014/comparison-declaration-election-expe|title = Comparison of declaration of election expenses of political parties and their MPS, Lok Sabha 2009 | Association for Democratic Reforms}} Till date, expenditure reports{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/research-and-report/political-party-watch/combined-reports/2015/analysis-funds-collected-and|title=Analysis of Funds Collected and Expenditure Incurred by National Political Parties - Lok Sabha 2004, 2009 & 2014 {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-08}} for 91 Assembly Elections and 3 Lok Sabha Elections have been analyzed.

Legal Advocacy:{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/legal-advocacy/judgements-and-orders|title=Judgements and PILs {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-16}}

Resorts to legal advocacy for Political and Electoral Reforms. From time to time, ADR takes up various issues in the light of good governance by filing relevant complaints/appeals and PILs/writs with Central Information Commission, Supreme Court/ High Court as well as other Central and State agencies. ADR also attends various consultations/round-tables with bodies like the Law Commission of India, Election Commission of India, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

• May 2002 and March 2003: ADR's petitions resulted in a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India by making it mandatory for the candidates contesting elections to Parliament and State Assemblies to file self-sworn affidavits (Form 26) declaring full information regarding their criminal, financial and educational background.{{Cite news |last=Aravind |first=Indulekha |date=2023-07-29 |title=Election observer: How ADR has been fighting to reduce criminality and corruption in polls |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/election-observer-how-adr-has-been-fighting-to-reduce-criminality-and-corruption-in-polls/articleshow/102237261.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-09-17 |issn=0013-0389}}
• April 2008: ADR obtained a landmark ruling from the Central Information Commission (CIC) stating that Income Tax Returns of Political Parties would now be available in the public domain along with the assessment orders.{{Cite news |date=2023-07-25 |title=CIC verdict can't be used to seek SC order for bringing political parties under RTI: Centre |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cic-verdict-cant-be-used-to-seek-sc-order-for-bringing-political-parties-under-rti-centre/articleshow/102106909.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-09-17 |issn=0013-0389}}
• June 2011: After a two-year-long RTI battle, crucial information on the 'Registers of Members' Interest' was finally mandated by CIC to be available in the public domain in June 2011. The Second report of the ‘Committee on Ethics’ of the Lok Sabha mentions ADR’s recommendations to instate a Register of Members’ Interest to disclose the business and financial interests of the members on the same lines as that of the Rajya Sabha.
• June 2013: The Central Information Commission (CIC) in an effort towards making political parties transparent as well as accountable in their functioning, declared the six national parties BJP, INC, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), and NCP as public authorities. All six parties refused to comply with CIC's order. In 2015, a petition was filed by ADR in the Supreme Court to implement CIC's order by bringing them under the preview of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
• July 2013: Supreme Court delivered a Judgment on a petition filed by Lily Thomas and Lok Prahari NGO, (ADR Intervened) setting aside clause 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act. As a result of which sitting MPs and MLAs were barred from holding office on being Convicted in a Court of Law.
• September 2013: ADR had also intervened in the petition filed by Common Cause for having a separate button on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) with the option of ‘None of the Above (NOTA).’ The Supreme Court gave a favorable ruling on 27 September 2013 and the NOTA button was inserted in the EVM machines for the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
• May 2014: The Delhi High Court issued notices to the Government of India and the Election Commission on a petition filed by ADR to monitor election expenditure of political parties.
• August 2016: Prof. Trilochan Sastry, Chairman of ADR, represented ADR at the 3rd Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF III) conference in Bali, Indonesia.
• February 2018: On a petition of Lok Prahari regarding the disproportionate asset increase of the MPs & MLAs, Supreme Court made it mandatory for candidates to declare sources of income of spouses & dependents in Form 26 of affidavits. ADR intervened in the matter & also provided all the necessary data.
• March 2023: On ADR's petition challenging the constitutional validity of the practice of the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners by the Executive, the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgment in favour of ADR by directing the appointment of Members of the Election Commission to be done on the advice of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition (or the leader of the single largest opposition party) in the Lok Sabha.
• February 2024: On ADR's petition challenging the Finance Act, 2017; Electoral Bonds and Removal of company's limit, the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgment in favour of ADR by holding the anonymous, unregulated and unlimited funding through electoral bonds and companies as unconstitutional.
• April 2024: The Supreme Court refused ADR's prayer for counting of 100% VVPATs in all EVMs but directed ECI to:
• # seal and store Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) for a period of 45 days and
• # a system of cross-verification on a request made by candidates in serial numbers 2 and 3 within 7 days after the declaration of results.

ADR has become the monopolistic single data point for information/analysis of background details (criminal, financial, and others) of politicians and of financial information of political parties.

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