Apex Court To Hear SBIs Plea For Extension In Electoral Bonds Today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the State Bank of India's plea for an extension to provide details regarding electoral bonds on Monday, following the bank's inability to meet the court's March 6 deadline. The SBI's plea, seeking an extended time until June 30, will be reviewed by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra. The session is set to commence at 10:30 am.

The bench had previously directed the national bank to provide details on each electoral bond encashed by political parties prior to the scheme's cancellation last month. The court will also address a separate plea filed by non-profits Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause, accusing the SBI of contempt for allegedly deliberately disregarding the court order to submit details by March 6.

On February 15, the bench declared the Centre's electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional, citing violations of people's right to information, Article 14 of the Constitution ensuring equality, and the principles of free and fair elections. The judges had ordered the Election Commission to disclose donor details, donation amounts, and recipients on its website by March 13.