Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging Electoral Bond Scheme on April 11

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will consider the petitions challenging the Electoral Bond Scheme on April 11. So that it can be examined whether the matter should be heard by a constitutional bench or not. Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing one of the petitioners, argued before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the aspect of the matter relates to the origin of the finances of political parties. And an official announcement is needed on this issue. Pointing to the questions prepared by him for consideration by the Supreme Court, advocate Shadan Farasat said that the court may consider the matter to be heard by a constitutional bench.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing one of the petitioners, said, "Only then will we benefit." When it will be a constitution bench. No one will be harmed by this. Yes, this issue goes to the core of our democratic existence. 12,000 so far and the largest party gets more than two-thirds.

Justice PS Narasimha asked the counsel for the Center whether he was ready to argue the aspect of referring the matter to a constitution bench. The counsel replied that Attorney General R Venkataramani, who was not present in the courtroom during the hearing, would have to argue whether a reference should be made to a constitution bench or not.

After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court listed the matter for further hearing on 11 April. To examine whether the petitions should be referred to a Constitution Bench.

The Center told the Supreme Court in October last year that the Electoral Bond Scheme is a very transparent method of political funding. Supreme Court NGO Association for Democratic Reforms ADR; It was hearing a batch of petitions, led by the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of the Centre's electoral bond scheme as a source of political funding.

In March 2021, the Supreme Court declined to entertain two stay applications filed by ADRs to stop the sale of electoral bonds ahead of elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. The Supreme Court noted that there was no justification to stop the sale of Electoral Bonds on concerns of anonymity in funding political parties or apprehensions of their misuse.

Meanwhile, the bench appointed two lawyers, including Neha Rathi, as nodal counsels to ensure a smooth hearing of PILs and said they would coordinate to ensure that a common compilation of judgments and other records is filed. In April 2019, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to submit details of receipts of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India in a sealed cover.