New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to collect and produce before it in a sealed cover within two weeks the data on funds received by the political parties through electoral bonds till September 30 this year, news agency PTI reported.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, referred to the April 12, 2019 interim order passed by the top court directing political parties to provide details of the funds received by them through electoral bonds.
“In any event, we now direct that the Election Commission shall produce up to date data until September 30, 2023 in terms of the interim direction which was issued on April 12, 2019,” the bench said.
#WATCH | Delhi: “Electoral Bond Scheme violates the fundamental rights of the citizens…The Supreme Court directed the EC to disclose the data of all donations that have come through electoral bonds…,” says Varun Thakur, a lawyer who challenged the Electoral Bond Scheme in the… pic.twitter.com/lH9JqdtkAn
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023
The apex court heard the arguments for three days and reserved its judgment on the pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), PTI reported.
It is to be noted that the petitioners argued that if the objective of the electoral bond scheme was to end donations through cash, then it has not been achieved.
The Centre, through the solicitor general, argued that black money used in elections will be eradicated via digital payments.
Notably, the electoral bond scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations in a bid to bring transparency in political funding made to the parties.
As per the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds can be purchased by any Indian national or organisation in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.