The Supreme Court Today (March 18th) declined to entertain requests from leading industry bodies to postpone the disclosure of electoral bond numbers, crucial for linking donors to political parties.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today, made a decisive ruling by rejecting the pleas of major industry bodies to postpone the disclosure of electoral bond numbers, crucial for establishing links between donors and political parties. This decision was handed down alongside a separate directive instructing the chairman and managing director of the State Bank of India (SBI) to submit an affidavit by March 21, affirming that the state-owned bank has fully disclosed all details concerning the electoral bonds, including the alphanumeric codes assigned to each bond.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud emphasized the court’s stance, stating,
“You have come here after the judgment is delivered, we can’t hear you right now. There is no application on record, and we cannot make an exception for you. The whole world knew when the case was being heard.”
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) had sought a deferral in the release of alphanumeric electoral bond numbers. However, the court ruled that these industry bodies could not be given preferential treatment over other applicants, and their applications were not listed for hearing.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been directed to promptly upload the electoral bond details.
“There is no manner of doubt that the SBI is required to furnish all details available with it. This, we clarify, will include the alphanumeric number and serial number, if any, of the bonds purchased,”
-clarified the CJI.
In order to avert any potential controversy, the chairperson of the bank is required to file an affidavit by 5 pm on March 21, affirming that all details within the bank’s custody have been disclosed without any omissions, he further added.
“Let SBI not be selective in disclosure, do not wait for orders, we believe that SBI will be candid and fair to the court,”
-emphasized the CJI.
The Electoral Bond Saga
The Supreme Court had previously, on February 15, declared electoral bonds unconstitutional, citing the non-disclosure of information regarding political party funding as a violation of citizens’ right to information. In response, the court directed SBI to furnish all data related to electoral bonds.
Subsequently, on March 4, SBI filed an application seeking an extension until June 30 to disclose the details. The court, however, dismissed the plea and directed the bank to share all details with the EC by March 12. The EC was then instructed to publish the details by March 15, a deadline it managed to meet a day earlier.
On March 17, the EC released additional information regarding electoral bonds, including the amount redeemed by each political party. This data was published following the apex court’s order to return all details, submitted in a sealed cover, back to the EC. The poll panel had initially provided this information to the court in November.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Electoral bonds
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