India, Sept. 12 -- The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Union government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding a statutory framework to regulate political parties and check their alleged misuse as conduits for black money and criminal activity.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, while suggesting that he also implead all recognised and registered political parties since any directions in the case would directly affect them.

The PIL has urged the court to direct the ECI to frame comprehensive rules governing registration and functioning of political parties and for the Union government t...