Supreme Court issues fresh order to SBI and Election Commission on Electoral bonds data
AMN / WEB DESK
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to make complete disclosure of all details related to electoral bonds, including the alpha-numeric unique number and serial numbers if any.
The court said the details should include the alpha-numeric unique number and serial numbers if any.
The Supreme Court added that the SBI chairman must file an affidavit by 5 pm on March 21 (Thursday), indicating that the bank has disclosed all details of electoral bonds. During the hearing, the Supreme Court pulled up the SBI for being “selective”.
“The SBI was expected to give every conceivable detail with it regarding the electoral bonds. Your attitude seems to be ‘you tell us to give the details, then we will give’. SBI should not be selective. SBI has to be candid and fair to the court,” Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, heading a five-judge Bench, addressed the SBI, represented by senior advocate Harish Salve.
The Court stated that its February 15 judgment mandated the SBI to disclose “all details” including the date of purchase/redemption, name of purchaser/recipient, and the denomination. The use of the word “including” means that the details specified in the judgment are ilustrative and not exhaustive. The Court further directed that the Election Commission of India should upload on its website the details received from the SBI forthwith upon their receipt.
What unique alpha-numeric numbers?
- Each bond is assigned a distinct alphanumeric code, which, when disclosed by the SBI, will facilitate the correlation of donors with the respective recipient parties.
- At present, the SBI has given the data to the election commission in two silos – donors who purchased bonds and recipients who encashed them – and the link is missing, report claimed.
- One-on-one correspondence between the electoral bond purchaser and redeemer of each bond can only be established once the unique alpha-numeric number, visible only under ultraviolet light, of each EB is available, The Indian Express reported.
- “There is no manner of doubt that the SBI was required to disclose all details. This, we clarify, will include the alpha-numeric number and the serial number, if any, of the bonds redeemed,” the bench added.
- Senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for the SBI told the apex court that if the numbers of electoral bonds are to be given, “we will give them”. (Courtesy HT)