NEW DELHI:  Political parties must not be brought under RTI or Right to Information Act as they are not public authorities, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.

In an affidavit in response to a petition, the government has argued that political parties are not "public authorities" as they are not set up under the Constitution or any law enacted by Parliament - they can't be treated as an institution or establishment.

"If political parties come under the RTI it will affect their smooth internal functioning. Political rivals will file RTI applications with malicious intent ," the government says.

A petition by the NGO had said that political parties should be declared "public authorities" to bring them under the RTI Act.  The petition also urged the court to ask political parties to declare all donations, including those below Rs. 20,000.