EC moves SC seeking sealed electoral bond envelopes, top court to hear matter on March 15

In an application, the poll panel said it had furnished to the Supreme Court a number of sealed envelopes, containing details on electoral bonds encashed by the political parties, during the course of hearing in the matter. The court will hear the matter on Friday.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking a direction release data on electoral bonds furnished to the top court in terms of previous orders of April 12, 2019 and November 2, 2023.

A five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud would take up the matter on Friday.

As per March 11, 2024 order, the Election Commission on Thursday uploaded the data on electoral bonds furnished to it by the SBI.

However, in an application, the poll panel said it had furnished to the Supreme Court a number of sealed envelopes, containing details on EBs encashed by the political parties, during the course of hearing in the matter.

It sought a direction to return of those sealed envelopes to comply with the directions to upload it on the website as per order of March 11.

On Monday, the Supreme Court had told the SBI to furnish details of purchasers of Electoral Bonds and names of political parties redeemed those instruments by March 12 to the Election Commission, rejecting its plea for extension of time until June 30 for the purpose.

It had then directed the Election Commission to publish the information provided by the SBI on its website on March 15.

In its February 15, 2024 judgment, the SC had declared the Electoral Bonds scheme, introduced in 2018 for donation to political parties as unconstitutional for being violative to right to information.