The Supreme Court on Monday heard the State Bank Of India’s (SBI) reply to its notice seeking its response on why the bank did not disclose the alpha numeric numbers. The top court directed SBI to disclose all details of electoral bonds purchased and redeemed after the April 2019 interim order by the top court. It further asked SBI to file a compliance affidavit by Thursday.
A five-judge constitution bench was again constituted to hear the case pertaining to complete disclosure of details of Electoral Bonds by SBI.
“There is no manner of doubt that SBI is required to give complete disclosure. This includes alpha-numeric numbers and serial numbers of the bonds purchased, ” the bench said in its order.
The bench further directed the SBI Chairman to file a compliance affidavit by 5 PM On Thursday stating that SBI has disclosed all details. The ECI shall upload details on communication by SBI.
CJI DY Chandrachud said that SBI’s attitude seems to be “you tell us what to disclose, we will disclose. That does not seem to be fair.”
“We will issue another order clarifying that SBI has to disclose all details on electoral bonds…When we say all details, it includes all conceivable data.” the CJI remarked.
CJI further said that we want all information related to the electoral bonds to be disclosed which is in your possession.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi orally mentioned FICCI, ASSOCHAM’s application against disclosure of details. However, the CJI said the court has no such application on board and the counsel should follow procedure.
Rohatgi appealed that kindly defer the issue of grant of numbers.
“You have come here after the judgment is delivered, we can’t hear you right now.” The top court tells the lawyer appearing for FICCI, ASSOCHAM.
Justice Gavai then told Rohatgi that the whole world knew this proceeding was going on. The top court declined Rohatgi’s request to hear the application filed by FICCI, ASSOCHAM.
The top court also dismissed an application filed seeking disclosure of data From 2018 to April 2019, before the court passed an interim order to maintain data on electoral bonds in sealed cover.
“Relief sought in a Miscellaneous Application (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,” the bench said while passing the order.