By PTI
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to produce before it in sealed cover the “up to date” data of funds received by political parties through electoral bonds till September 30, 2023.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud referred to the April 12, 2019, interim direction passed by the apex court directing political parties to furnish the details of funds received by them through electoral bonds to the poll panel in a sealed cover.
The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the April 2019 order was not restrictive to the date on which it was pronounced, and if there was any ambiguity, it was necessary for the poll panel to seek a clarification from the top court.
While hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties, the bench observed the ECI should have up-to-date data.
READ MORE | Electoral bonds: Selective anonymity may lead to victimisation, says SC
“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 ordered. It said the exercise be carried out within two weeks and data handed over to the registrar (judicial) of the apex court in a sealed cover.
The bench reserved its verdict on the petitions, including those filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), after hearing arguments for three days.
On Thursday, Chief Justice Chandrachud said that the court would not ask the State Bank of India to reveal donors’ identities at this stage. “That nobody is interested in at the present stage but we would like to know the quantum,” he said.
The scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.
According to the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by any citizen of India or entity incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last election to the Lok Sabha or a state legislative Assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.
According to the notification, electoral bonds shall be encashed by an eligible political party only through an account with an authorised bank. Follow channel on WhatsApp
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to produce before it in sealed cover the “up to date” data of funds received by political parties through electoral bonds till September 30, 2023.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud referred to the April 12, 2019, interim direction passed by the apex court directing political parties to furnish the details of funds received by them through electoral bonds to the poll panel in a sealed cover.
The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the April 2019 order was not restrictive to the date on which it was pronounced, and if there was any ambiguity, it was necessary for the poll panel to seek a clarification from the top court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
While hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties, the bench observed the ECI should have up-to-date data.
READ MORE | Electoral bonds: Selective anonymity may lead to victimisation, says SC
“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 ordered. It said the exercise be carried out within two weeks and data handed over to the registrar (judicial) of the apex court in a sealed cover.
The bench reserved its verdict on the petitions, including those filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), after hearing arguments for three days.
On Thursday, Chief Justice Chandrachud said that the court would not ask the State Bank of India to reveal donors’ identities at this stage. “That nobody is interested in at the present stage but we would like to know the quantum,” he said.
The scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.
According to the provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by any citizen of India or entity incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last election to the Lok Sabha or a state legislative Assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.
According to the notification, electoral bonds shall be encashed by an eligible political party only through an account with an authorised bank. Follow channel on WhatsApp
