Supreme Court Orders SBI to Disclose Electoral Bond Details, Rejects Constitutional Limitations Argument
Last Updated on March 19, 2024 by News Desk
The Supreme Court of India has requested the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details regarding electoral bonds, including the alphanumeric serial code that will link donor details with political parties.
A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra said the SC, in its February judgement, asked the bank to disclose all details of the bonds and should not wait for further orders on this aspect.
The court directed SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara to file an affidavit by 5 pm, Thursday indicating that the bank has disclosed all details of electoral bonds in its possession and custody. The central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, informed the apex court that the ultimate aim behind the introduction of electoral bonds was to curb black money.
The Supreme Court has been asked to consider issuing some direction in this regard, but CJI Chandrachud said that the court can only work as per the Constitution. As judges, they are only enforcing the directions of the judgement and are not restricted by the Constitution.
The central government has defended electoral bonds, stating that the ultimate aim behind the introduction of electoral bonds was to curb black money.
