Former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka has revisited several transformative but largely overlooked reform proposals made by eminent jurist Justice V.M. Tarkunde nearly five decades ago—particularly advocating state-funded elections to curb financial influence in the democratic process.
Justice Oka recalled that in 1974, Jayprakash Narayan, on behalf of Citizens for Democracy, appointed Justice Tarkunde to chair the Citizens’ Commission on Elections. In 1975, the Commission recommended key measures, including:
• Public/state funding of elections to eliminate money-power and ensure electoral fairness
• Establishment of Voters’ Councils at the grassroots level to prevent electoral corruption
• A three-member Election Commission (later implemented)
• Reducing voting age from 21 to 18 (eventually brought into effect through the 61st Constitutional Amendment)
• Protecting the independence of Election Commissioners by reforming their appointment process
Justice Oka particularly emphasized the importance of grassroots Voters’ Councils, expressing concern that such a proposal has mysteriously faded away:
“I don’t know what happened to that recommendation.”
He was delivering the 16th V.M. Tarkunde Memorial Lecture at the India International Centre, New Delhi, hosted by the Tarkunde Memorial Foundation. His talk focused on:
“Our Constitution and the Fundamental Duty to Develop a Scientific Temper.”
Justice Tarkunde, often referred to as the “Father of the Public Interest Litigation movement,” is celebrated for his remarkable contributions to liberties, democracy, and constitutional values.
During his address, Justice Oka also underscored the environmental harms caused by certain religious festivities, clarifying that acts detrimental to the environment cannot claim protection under Article 25 (freedom of religion). He stressed the urgent need to promote scientific temper, noting that those advocating religious reform often face hostility from influential religious factions.
