Electoral Bonds Case Hearing : Live Updates From Supreme Court [Day 3]

AG: What is the end that I would put to use by way of accessing this information? General political debate or determining which party would do better? What concrete purpose would this information be relevant for?

The bench will resume hearings post lunch.

AG: When the voters have a right to know about criminal antecedents of a candidate etc- they have a right because they have a task at hand which is a choice of a candidate. Therefore, you need to know.

AG: This scheme is not concerned with political contributions per se. That's why the court will not get into the larger question of where should political contributions should come from. All those questions are completely alien to this challenge.

AG: The CB looks at substantial questions of interpretation of Constitution. There has to be something very precise, direct and not broad statements which may resemble a political debate.

AG: I will address your lordships on four important aspects. Before I do that, a very broad brush has been stated in this case. It is said that the scheme violates Art 14,19,21 and also undermines the basic structure of the Constitution.

The Attorney General for India R Venkatramani commences his arguments.

AG: The global canvas on election funding, party funding, campaign funding is like a kaleidoscope. It presents very interesting items, experiments made etc.

Agarwal: So obviously that is a political party that is continuing in the older regime.

Agarwal: if the numbers of electoral bonds will increase, the numbers of voluntary contributions which are less than 20,000 rs which are dubious transactions will decrease. The only political party for which it hasn't decreased is the party that said that it won't take EBs.

Agarwal: There is something else that will come- the political party which took the stance of not accepting EBs is still accepting those less than 20,000 rs voluntary contributions.

CJI: CPI(M)

Justice Khanna: Show us how many deposits were made through electoral bonds which were less than 20,000 rs. If that is so, it'll be reflected in less than 20,000 rs

Adv Kanu Agarwal: Please see the compilation. This is the pre electoral bonds scenario. This below 20,000 rs mechanism it was used as a loophole where parties would receive donations less than 20,000 rs.

Agarwal: These contributions below 20,000 Rs which were slightly dubious contributions have gone down. Contributions by Electoral Bonds have gone up.