The State Bank of India (SBI) has petitioned the Supreme Court for an extension until June 30 to disclose details regarding electoral bonds encashed by political parties. The court is set to address this request on Monday, along with a separate plea seeking contempt action against the SBI for allegedly disobeying court directives.
The SBI’s application comes following a landmark ruling on February 15, where a five-judge constitution bench declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional. The court ordered the Election Commission to disclose donor details, donation amounts, and recipients by March 13.
However, the SBI has argued that retrieving information from disparate sources and ensuring donor anonymity adds complexity to the process. The bank maintains that donor details were kept sealed and separate from bond issuance data, making decoding and matching a time-consuming endeavor.
In response, a contempt plea was filed by NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause, accusing the SBI of deliberately delaying disclosure to influence the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The plea alleges that SBI’s actions undermine the court’s authority and the principles of participatory democracy.
The plea contends that electoral bonds are traceable, as evidenced by the bank’s maintenance of donor records. It emphasizes the importance of transparency in political financing, citing constitutional rights to information and voter empowerment.
Sources By Agencies
