New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (March 18) directed the State Bank of India to give all details linked to electoral bonds purchased and redeemed after April 12, 2019 to the Election Commission of India – including, importantly, the unique codes linked to each bond – by 5 pm on Thursday. The EC has been told to release these details on its website “forthwith” after receiving them.
The court pulled up the SBI for not releasing these details already, saying it should have been clear from the order that all “conceivable” details had to be made public.
“…There is no manner of doubt that the SBI is required to furnish all details available with it. This, we clarify, will include the alphanumeric number and serial number, if any, of the bonds purchased. In order to avoid any controversy in the future, the chairperson of the bank should file an affidavit by 5 pm on Thursday that it has disclosed all details in its custody and that no details have been withheld,” the bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the SBI, said that the bank was happy to furnish whatever details the court wanted.
“In the judgment, we had expressed asked the State Bank of India to disclose ‘all details.’ That includes the bond numbers as well. The bank cannot be selective in disclosing all details. Do not wait for the orders of this court,” CJI Chandrachud said in court.
As The Wire has reported, information released by the SBI and EC on directives from the Supreme Court last week did not contain key details that would help trace which businesses and individuals were paying which parties. This meant that details of possible quid pro quo arrangements are still not public.
Meanwhile, on Monday, an industry body – ASSOCHAM – reportedly moved the Supreme Court against the public disclosure of the unique numbers associated with electoral bonds. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi tried to intervene in court on Monday and speak for FICCI and ASSOCHAM, but the chief justice intervened, saying, “We have no such application on board.”
