Need for law regulating political parties — Commission

The law should provide at least 30 per cent reservation for women in the parties’ organisational positions, besides reserving the similar percentage for allotting tickets in elections.

Justice Venkatachalia said the views expressed in the consultation papers were not the final views of the Commission and recommendations of the Commission would be issued later, after detailed discussion at various fora.

The papers, which were released by the Commission, deal with the review of the working of political parties, specially in relation to elections and reforms option, review of election laws, process and reform options, immunity of legislators in view of the judgment given by the Supreme Court on Article 105 (2) in the P V Narasimha Rao case, treaty-making power under the Constitution, liability of the state in court, all India judicial service and efficiency of public audit system in the country.

Justice Venkatachalia said the commission proposed to release around 20 papers in due course and these seven papers were the first in the series. The Commission is also proposed to release a paper on the functioning of the legislatures, executives and the judiciary.

Replying to a question, Justice Venkatachalia said a member of the Commission P A Sangma had submitted a paper on high posts being held by persons of foreign origin, and the Commission was yet to take a decision on the issue.