In a significant development regarding the electoral bonds case, the Supreme Court on Monday (March 18) directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to divulge all possible details pertaining to electoral bonds, including their alphanumeric numbers. This move comes in light of the court’s February 15 judgment mandating the SBI to disclose comprehensive information, not limited to the date of purchase/redemption, purchaser/recipient names, and denominations.
Furthermore, the Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to promptly upload the received details from the SBI on its website, marking a crucial step in the court-mandated disclosure process associated with electoral bond details. Previously, the apex court dismissed SBI’s plea for an extension to furnish electoral bond details, subsequently prompting the bank to comply with the court’s directives by providing the information to the ECI.
During last week’s hearing, the Chief Justice Chandrachud-led bench stressed the necessity for the SBI to disclose alphanumeric numbers corresponding to each electoral bond, in addition to the already disclosed purchase and redemption details. The court emphasized that the term “all details” encompasses every conceivable data, leaving no room for selective disclosure.
In a related development, the ‘Citizens Rights Trust’ has moved an application in the Supreme Court, seeking disclosure of electoral bond details sold between March 1, 2018, and April 11, 2019. However, the court reiterated its decision to make the disclosure directive applicable from April 12, 2019, considering it a conscious choice by the constitution bench, dismissing the application as non-maintainable.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s directive for full disclosure of electoral bond details underscores the significance of transparency in electoral funding. This move aims to ensure accountability and uphold the right to information, as enshrined in the Constitution.
