Disclose all info on electoral bonds, SC orders State Bank
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details related to electoral bonds, including the date of purchase and redemption, buyers and recipients, denominations, and the alphanumeric serial codes of the instrument used to make political donations.
The top court also ordered SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara to file an affidavit by 5 PM on Thursday stating that all details in its custody have been disclosed and that no information has been suppressed. The court had struck down the scheme as unconstitutional on 15 February.
“There is no doubt that SBI is required to furnish all available details. This classification includes the alphanumeric number and serial number, if any, of the purchased bonds,” Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said. The alphanumeric code will reveal the link between the purchaser of the bond and the recipient political party.
“To prevent future controversies, the bank’s chairperson should file an affidavit by 5 PM on Thursday, confirming the disclosure of all details in its custody and the absence of withheld information.”
SBI, on its part, agreed to disclose the information in its entirety.
The apex court dismissed a petition filed by Citizens Rights Trust, an NGO, that sought disclosure of bond details from 1 March, 2018, to 11 April, 2019, affirming that no pre-dating is necessary. The Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India to disclose information only from 12 April 2019, to 15 February 2024. The plea claimed that a total of 9,159 bonds worth ₹4,000 crore