Last Updated: March 12, 2024, 19:24 IST
SBI (Representational Image/Getty)
The Supreme Court on Monday had junked SBI’s plea seeking an extension till June 30 to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties
The State Bank of India (SBI) sent all electoral bond data to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by 5:30 pm on Tuesday.
“In compliance with Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions to the SBI, contained in its order dated February 15 and March 11, 2024, (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), data on electoral bonds has been supplied by State Bank of India to Election Commission of India, today, March 12, 2024,” a statement by the spokesperson of the poll panel said.
In compliance of Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions to the SBI, contained in its order dated Feb 15 & March 11, 2024 (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), data on electoral bonds has been supplied by State Bank of India to Election Commission of India, today, March 12, 2024.— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) March 12, 2024
The Election Commission of India will upload all the data on its website on March 15, 2024, for the general public. The ECI will also make the electoral bonds filings public which was only submitted to the Supreme Court in sealed covers till now.
The Supreme Court on Monday had junked SBI’s plea seeking an extension till June 30 to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties.
A five-member Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had asked the SBI to submit the required data within the close of March 12 (Tuesday) business hours.
The court had further warned the SBI that if the timeline was not adhered to, the court could issue contempt.
In a landmark judgement on February 15, the Supreme Court had scrapped the Centre’s electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it “unconstitutional” and ordered disclosure by the Election Commission of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients by March 13.
The top court had directed the SBI, to submit the details of the electoral bonds purchased from April 12, 2019, till date to the Election Commission by March 6. The poll panel, in turn, was asked to publish the information on its official website by March 13.
On March 4, the SBI moved the apex court seeking an extension till June 30 to disclose the details of the electoral bonds encashed by political parties.
