Electoral bonds: India's Supreme Court criticises lender SBI for not sharing all details, issues notice

In the electoral bonds case, India's Supreme Court on Friday (Mar 15) pulled up the State Bank of India (SBI) for not disclosing details likebond numbers, date of purchase, name of purchaser, and the date of purchase/redemption to the Election Commission of India (ECI). It issued a notice to the state-run bank seeking full details.

Theunique alphanumeric code printed on each electoral bond would have helped match donors with political parties, but was not shared by SBI after an earlier court order to make the information public on electoral bonds. Following that order, the ECI had published the data - as shared by SBI - on its website late Thursday.

"Judgment of the Constitution Bench required the SBI to furnish to the ECI all details of the electoral bonds and redeemed, including the date of purchase, name of purchaser, and the date of purchase/redemption," said the Chief Justice of IndiaD Y Chandrachud on Friday.

"It is submitted that SBI has not disclosed the unique alpha numeric number of the electoral bonds. SG submits that notice may be issued to the SBI," the CJI added.

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"We direct the issue of notice to the SBI returnable by Monday," the apex court ordered.

The bench of Chief Justice Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra reconvened today to hear an application filed by the Election Commission.

In its application, the ECI had sought the return of sealed cover the documents furnished by the commission to the court in adherence to its interim order.

SBI to explain lapse

While hearing the EC plea, the top court noted that the data provided by SBI was 'incomplete'.

The CJI also asked who was appearing in the court on behalf of the SBI.

"Who is appearing for the State Bank of India? They have not disclosed the bond numbers. It has to be disclosed by the State Bank of India," said the CJI.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also urged the court to issue a notice to SBI as he emphasised the bank must have something to say over the matter but was not a party to Friday's hearing.

“SBI is not a party. They were here because they had moved an application,” he said.

Expressing his displeasure, the CJI said, “They should be here when the matter is going on.”

The court also allowed the ECI request and directed its registry to return the poll bonds data submitted to it to the poll body.

“The Registrar Judicial of this court shall ensure that the data which has been filed by ECI in pursuance of the interim orders of the court is scanned and digitised. This may be completed by 5 PM tomorrow. Once this exercise is completed, the original shall be returned to ECI counsel Amit Sharma, who shall then upload it on the ECI website…,” the court directed.

(With inputs from agencies)