The The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) to submit electoral bond donor details to the Election Commission of India (EC) by tomorrow, March 12, dismissing the lender's petition seeking more time to do the same.
Observing that the petitioner's submissions indicate that all information is "readily available", the top court said, "SBI is directed to disclose the details by the close of business hours [on] March 12, 2024. EC shall compile the information and publish the details in its official website no later than by March 15, 2024 by 5 pm.
Observing that the petitioner's submissions indicate that all information is "readily available", the top court said, "SBI is directed to disclose the details by the close of business hours [on] March 12, 2024. EC shall compile the information and publish the details in its official website no later than by March 15, 2024 by 5 pm.
On February 15, the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bond scheme as unconstitutional. It directed the SBI to furnish details of all electoral bond purchases since April 12, 2019, to the EC by March 6. It further directed this information to be published on the EC website by March 13. SBI, however, approached the Court on March 4 seeking more time, citing the "time-consuming" nature of the process due to anonymity protocols surrounding the donors. The five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud also rapped SBI for its "disobedience" in not complying with its previous order to furnish all details of electoral bond purchases to the EC by March 6, and delaying the process. "We place SBI on notice that this Court may be inclined to proceed against it for wilful disobedience if SBI does not comply with the directions by the timelines indicated in this order," the bench said. SBI, however, approached the Court on March 4 seeking more time, citing the "time-consuming" nature of the process due to anonymity protocols surrounding the donors.
