SC dismisses plea to stay sale of electoral bonds
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking stay on further sale of electoral bonds ahead of assembly elections.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde declined to stay sale of the electoral bonds as sought in the application moved by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms.
The NGO had also sought a stay on sale of electoral bonds during the pendency of the PIL filed by it pertaining to funding of political parties and alleged lack of transparency in their accounts. The Centre had earlier told the bench that the bonds would be issued from April 1 to April 10.
The NGO had claimed that there is a serious apprehension that any further sale of electoral bonds before the upcoming assembly elections, including in West Bengal and Assam, would further “increase illegal and illicit funding of political parties through shell companies”.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking stay on further sale of electoral bonds ahead of assembly elections.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde declined to stay sale of the electoral bonds as sought in the application moved by the NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms.
The NGO had also sought stay on sale of the electoral bonds during the pendency of the PIL filed by it pertaining to funding of political parties and alleged lack of transparency in their accounts The Centre had earlier told the bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, that the bonds would be issued from April 1 to April 10.
The NGO had claimed that there is a serious apprehension that any further sale of electoral bonds before the upcoming assembly elections, including in West Bengal and Assam, would further “increase illegal and illicit funding of political parties through shell companies”. While reserving its order on the NGO’s application, the apex court on March 24 had flagged the issue of possible misuse of funds received through electoral bonds by political parties for illegal purposes like terrorism and had asked the Centre whether there was any “control” over how these funds were put to use.
The top court had said that the government should look into this issue of possible misuse of funds received through electoral bonds for illegal purposes like terrorism. “What is the control of the government on how the money is put to use,” it asked.
“The funds can be misused for illegal purposes like terrorism. We would like you, as the government, to look into this aspect,” the bench said, adding that political parties may use these funds for activities beyond their political agenda.