Supreme Court to refer Electoral Bonds case to a bigger bench

The Supreme Court on Monday referred a batch of pleas challenging the Centre’s electoral bonds programme to a Constitution bench of five judges.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that the matter will be listed before the Constitution bench on October 31.

The CJI said that the case was being referred to a bigger bench in view of the importance of the issue raised.

The electoral bonds scheme was introduced by the Centre in 2017. The scheme allows individuals and companies to donate money to political parties anonymously.

The petitioners have challenged the scheme on the ground that it violates the principles of transparency and accountability in political funding.

The Centre has defended the scheme, saying that it is necessary to protect the privacy of donors and to encourage political donations.

The Supreme Court had earlier refused to stay the release of electoral bonds ahead of the assembly elections in certain states.

The court’s decision to refer the case to a Constitution bench is a significant development. It shows that the court is taking the issue of electoral bonds seriously and is willing to examine it in detail.

The decision of the Constitution bench on the electoral bonds scheme will have far-reaching implications for political funding in India.

It will also be a test of the Supreme Court’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public life.