Supreme Court Bar Association chief seeks presidential intervention in electoral bonds

New Delhi:

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Adish C Aggarwala on Tuesday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu urging her to seek the president’s reference to the Supreme Court on electoral bonds The judgment in the planned case should not be implemented unless the matter is reheard by the Supreme Court. .

In a letter to the president, Agarwala said: “Disclosing the names of companies that contribute to different political parties will make these companies vulnerable.

“If the names of companies and the amounts of donations to parties are leaked, it cannot be ruled out that they will be targeted and harassed by parties that have received smaller donations. This would be a betrayal of commitments to parties.” They also accept their Voluntary contributions. ”

Bar association leaders urged Ms Murmu to seek a presidential reference in the electoral bonds case so that the entire proceedings can be revisited and justice be served “to the Indian Parliament, political parties, corporates and the public”.

Article 143 of the Constitution confers advisory jurisdiction to the Supreme Court and authorizes the President of India to consult the Supreme Court. If the President determines that a question of law or fact that has arisen or may arise in the future is of public importance and would be expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court, the President may refer the question to the Supreme Court for consideration.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the State Bank of India to disclose details of electoral bonds encashed by political parties to the Election Commission before close of business on March 12, warning the country’s largest public sector bank that the court may continue to do so. If it fails to comply with its instructions and deadlines, it is opposed on the grounds of “willful disobedience”.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, while rejecting State Bank of India’s plea seeking extension of time for disclosure of details till June 30, also directed the European Commission to publish the information shared by the bank on its official website. March 15 at 5 p.m.

In a landmark verdict on February 15, the same five-judge Constitution bench struck down the Centre’s controversial electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it “unconstitutional” and ordered the Board of Elections to disclose donors and the amounts of their donations as well as their recipients by March 13.

The Supreme Court ordered the termination of the scheme, directing SBI, the authorized financial institution under the scheme, to submit to the Election Commission by March 6 details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019 till date.

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