March 25, 2026
Pratima Mondal’s opposition to the introduction of The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
I express my objection of the presentation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026, because of two reasons. One, this is a draconian Bill. By giving complete control of the authority to the Union Government, the Bill centralises disproportionate authority in the Executive, weakening institutional checks and federal balance, making it a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution. There is no independent oversight mechanism raising risk of arbitrary action. Two, the requirement of prior approval of the Union Government before initiating criminal proceedings under the Act introduces an element of Executive filtering, while it may act as a safeguard against arbitrary prosecution. It also centralises authority and unchecked discretion without the Union Government. I, therefore, oppose the introduction of this Bill.
