A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said there is no error apparent on the face of the record.
An FIR has been filed against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following allegations of electoral roll fraud. The case involves BJP leaders and Enforcement Directorate officials under charges of extortion and conspiracy. The controversy has sparked a political debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview, covered a range of issues including 'One Nation, One Election', ED action on the Opposition leaders, Electoral bonds scheme, and several others. He also talked about his vision for the country after 2024.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 21 published the complete electoral bond data submitted by the State Bank of India (SBI) on the orders of the Supreme Court (SC).
PM Narendra Modi noted that if there is a trail of funds received, it is because of his government's electoral bonds system, and said that any shortcoming in this regard can be improved upon.
SBI's submission to the EC included vital details such as the date of purchase, names of purchasers, and denominations of the electoral bonds. Moreover, it encompassed information on the date of encashment of the bonds and the recipient political parties.
As per the Supreme Court's direction, the State Bank of India (SBI) has made available the details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India before the close of business hours on March 12.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court mandated SBI to disclose the specifics of electoral bonds to the Election Commission by the conclusion of business hours on March 12. This order was issued on Monday, compelling SBI to comply with the deadline.
The State Bank of India has approached the Supreme Court seeking more time to disclose donor details associated with electoral bonds. The bank requests an extension until June 30 to fulfill this obligation, citing logistical challenges and practical constraints.
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 in transparency in political funding.
Donations to political parties are tax-exempt, provided they are directed towards political parties recognised by the Election Commission.
The Congress welcomed the Supreme Court verdict striking down the electoral bonds scheme, and said that it will reinforce the power of votes over notes. In a post on X, Mallikarjun Kharge said he hoped the government will stop resorting to "such mischievous ideas" in the future.
The Supreme Court's ruling declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional dealt a significant blow to the government. Here's a summary of the events leading to this landmark decision:
The Supreme Court struck down the electoral bond scheme, saying it violates the right to information and the freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud delivered two separate but unanimous verdicts on pleas challenging the scheme. Pronouncing the verdict, the CJI said the scheme is violative of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of Constitution.
In November 2023, a 5-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra had reserved its verdict on pleas challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme after hearing the arguments for three days in a row.
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 in transparency in political funding.
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