Supreme court issues notice to SBI; asks to disclose electoral bond numbers as well
Last Updated on March 15, 2024 by News Desk
The Supreme Court on Friday observed that the State Bank of India (SBI) has also to disclose electoral bond numbers along with the other details that have been submitted by it.
In the recent development, the supreme court bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, stated that SBI has not fully complied with the court’s order of March 11 directing it to disclose full details of electoral bonds.
“The judgment of the constitution bench clarified that all details of electoral bonds will be made available including the date of purchase, name of the purchaser, and the denomination. It has been submitted that SBI has not disclosed the electoral bond numbers (alpha numeric numbers). Notice be issued to SBI. We direct registry to issue notice to SBI returnable on Monday,” the Court stated.
The bench was hearing the application filed by the election commission seeking the return of sealed cover documents furnished by the commission to the court in compliance with its interim order, as it does not have any copies of the documents to maintain its confidentiality.
The court disposed of the application and accepted its request. it said, “The request of ECI to return the data for being uploaded is accepted. Request not opposed by any counsel We direct the registrar judicial of this court shall ensure that documents are scanned and digitised. Once this exercise is complete. The original shall be given back to (ECI counsel) Amit Sharma and uploaded on the website on or before March 17. A copy of the scanned and digitised files to be made available to Mr Amit Sharma as well,”
Earlier, the court held the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional and therefore ordered SBI to furnish the complete details of the electoral bonds including the Name of the purchaser, Denomination of electoral bonds, Details of each electoral bond redeemed by political parties and the date of encashment, to the ECI and publish the same on its website. The SBI submitted the affidavit of compliance to the court on Wednesday, 13th March.
Written by Shagun Behal
