The Supreme Court declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional on Thursday, directing the bank managing it to share details with the Election Commission for public disclosure by March 13.
The ruling, a significant setback for the BJP-led government, deemed the scheme a violation of the Right to Information and Section 19(1)(a). The Court instructed the State Bank of India to provide all bond purchase details since April 12, 2019.
It criticized amendments permitting unlimited funding to parties as arbitrary and dismissed the government’s rationale for addressing black money. The scheme, introduced in 2018, aimed to enhance transparency but faced criticism for its lack thereof. Critics argue it favors ruling parties, as it enables anonymous donations, contrary to previous disclosure requirements. The Court reserved its verdict on November 2, 2023.