Electoral Bonds Case : Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing On Whether SBI Should Disclose Bond Numbers
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will hear the Electoral Bonds Case today at 10.30 AM.The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will decide whether the State Bank of India should be directed to disclose the unique numbers of the Electoral Bonds. Last Friday, the bench had taken exception to the...
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will hear the Electoral Bonds Case today at 10.30 AM.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will decide whether the State Bank of India should be directed to disclose the unique numbers of the Electoral Bonds. Last Friday, the bench had taken exception to the SBI disclosing the electoral bond details without revealing the unique alphanumeric numbers, without which it is difficult to match the donors with the political parties. Observing that the SBI had to disclose the unique numbers as per the February 15 judgment, the bench issued notice to the Bank and posted the matter today.
In another development, the Election Commission of India yesterday uploaded on its website the details of donations received by political parties. These details were submitted before the Supreme Court pursuant to the interim orders passed on April 12, 2019 and November 2, 2023. On March 11, the Court directed the ECI to publish these details as well.
In a related development, an application has been filed by "Citizens Rights Trust" seeking to direct the SBI and the ECI to disclose the details of electoral bonds worth Rs 4000 crores sold between March 1, 2018 and April 12, 2019.
Follow this page for live updates from today's hearing.
SC : The Election Commission shall upload the details forthwith upon receipt of information from the SBI.
SC : Mr. Harish Salve says that there is no reservation on the part of the SBI in disclosing all details. To obviate any future controversy, we direct the SBI Chairman to file an affidavit by 5 PM Thursday indicating that SBI has disclosed all details of electoral bonds which were in its possession and custody and no details have been withheld.
#BREAKING SC : There is no manner of doubt that SBI was required to disclose all details. This, we clarify, will include the alphanumeric number and the serial number, if any, of the bonds redeemed.
Bench dictates order : Plain reading of the judgment indicates that the SBI was required to submit all details in terms of the purchase and in terms of the receipt. The expression, "including" clearly demonstartes that the inclusive part was illustrative and not exhaustive.
Salve makes submission regarding mismatch ...
CJI : We don't want to get into that.
Salve : Please say court has accepted the compliance affidavit, that will put an end to it.
Bench dictates order -Relief sought in a MA for predating the disclosure will amount to a substantive modification of the judgment, which can't be done in a MA. The MA is dismissed as non maintainable.
SG : NGOs are fudging the figures. There is a quotation by Einstein- that some people use statistics like a drunken man uses a lamp post, more for support than for lighting.
SG : Enough of assistance by these "public spirited citizens". He (Bhushan) is gathering the details for a future PIL.
Bhushan : I am saying that there is mismatch between the numbers given by the SBI and ECI data. Now the explanation could be that the data is from April 12. What is possible is some of them were purchased before April 12 and redeemed after that. But I just want to point out there is a mismatch.
Hansaria : Logically, once the right to know of voter, it should be from the beginning. But if your lordships have taken a conscious decision, I am not pressing it.
CJI dictates order that the IA is not pressed.
Sr Adv Vijay Hansaria : We have filed an application for all details.
J Gavai : Salve has said all details will be given.
Salve : Yes.