Supreme Court Directs State Bank of India to Disclose Electoral Bond Numbers, Issues Notice
New Delhi : The Supreme Court has mandated that the State Bank of India (SBI) must disclose electoral bond numbers, in addition to the details it has already revealed regarding the purchase and redemption of the bonds.
In a recent development related to the disclosure process of electoral bond details, a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra reconvened to hear an application filed by the Election Commission (ECI). The ECI sought the return of sealed cover documents submitted by the commission to the court as per its interim order.
The ECI clarified that it had not retained any copies of these documents to maintain confidentiality and requested the return of the sealed envelopes to proceed with necessary actions.
At the start of the hearing, Chief Justice Chandrachud said, "One thing. Who is appearing for the State Bank of India? They have not disclosed the bond numbers. It has to be disclosed by the State Bank of India."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to issue notice to the bank, stating, "I am not representing the State Bank of India. However, Your Lordships may issue notice to the SBI since they may have something to say. I believe they need to be present."
Responding to this, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal referred to the court's ruling, insisting that it was an 'inclusive' order requiring all relevant details to be provided.
Chief Justice Chandrachud also expressed disapproval that the State Bank's counsel was absent, stating that they were not parties to the Election Commission's application.
Despite initial reluctance, the Chief Justice, at the solicitor general's insistence, directed notice to be issued to the State Bank of India.
The bench also disposed of the Election Commission's application with no objections from any parties. The registrar general was instructed to scan and digitise the data filed by the commission by 5 PM the following day. Once completed, the original copies were to be returned to the Election Commission of India, with scanned copies also made available to them. The data was to be uploaded on the Election Commission's website.
Background:
This development arises from the Supreme Court's earlier ruling declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional. In a landmark judgement on February 15, the bench led by Chief Justice Chandrachud struck down the scheme, stating that anonymous electoral bonds contravened the right to information under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Following this, the State Bank of India, the issuing bank of electoral bonds, was directed to cease issuing these bonds immediately. The bank was also instructed to submit details of all bond purchases made since the court's interim order on April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission of India within three weeks, setting the deadline for March 6, 2024.
The State Bank of India submitted the electoral bond details to the Election Commission of India on March 12, complying with the court's order. The Election Commission then uploaded this data on its official website on March 14.
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Karnataka govt rejects calls for probe into killing of Maoist leader
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said Maoist leader Vikram Gowda, who was shot dead in an alleged encounter with the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), was carrying "deadly" weapons, and rejected calls for a probe into the killing.
Had the ANF not shot him, he would have fired at all of them, he said, as he rejected any suspicion surrounding his killing on Monday.
"He (Gowda) was carrying a deadly weapon, an automatic machine gun-like weapon. If they (ANF personnel) did not shoot him, he would have fired at them. So I'm told that he was shot at first sight. So there is no need to suspect anything," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are more than 60 cases against him, including murder charges.
"...so not taking any chances, he was 'encountered'. Further details I can share once it comes to me in writing from the department," he added.
Gowda (46) was killed in an alleged exchange of fire between the ANF and a group of Maoists near Peetebailu village in Kabbinale area near Hebri of Udupi district.
According to officials, he was one of the most wanted Maoist leaders from Karnataka, facing 61 cases, including murder and extortion, in Karnataka, and 19 in Kerala.
Reacting to Karkala BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar's statement that Naxal activities had surged after the Congress came to power last year, the Minister noted that the incident happened in his constituency -- Karkala, where the ANF is also headquartered.
"The ANF had constantly been keeping a watch on Naxal activities. Until recently there was nothing. Fifteen days ago two persons named Latha and Raju, who are Naxal leaders, were sighted and I was reported about it. So the Internal Security Division (ISD) started a combing operation. Meanwhile, information about Gowda came and ANF were trying to track him and the 'encounter' has happened," he said.
The Minister noted that there have been calls from some quarters demanding a probe into Gowda's killing, but pointed out that there were 60 cases against him, and he was carrying weapons when he was "encountered."
"Tell me, in what angle investigation should be done? Everything was done within the framework of law. The person who was involved in murders, carrying weapons like automatic machine guns, cannot be left and treated in a friendly manner," he said.
To a question on some "Leftists" allegedly targeting the government over the encounter saying that there is no "difference" between Congress and BJP, Parameshwara said it is not the question about the two political parties.
"It is the question of safety. For what purpose he had taken up Naxalism is important. He was told to surrender, his relatives also had asked him to quit and surrender, they had even written letters. He did not pay heed to them," he said.
