New Delhi: The State Bank of India (SBI) on Wednesday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to inform that it has complied with an order asking the bank to file details of all electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The SBI said it has submitted the details of the electoral bonds in two pendrives which contain two password-protected PDFs.
Additionally, the bank has stated in its affidavit that a total of 22,217 electoral bonds were distributed from April 2019 to February 15, 2024, prior to the Supreme Court dismissing the scheme.
On Tuesday, following a strict directive from the Supreme Court, the State Bank of India submitted the details of the electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India.
The Election Commission will compile and publish this data by 5 pm on Friday, in accordance with the court’s instructions.
Despite the nation’s largest bank, the State Bank of India, requesting an extension for the March 6 deadline to release the data, the Supreme Court rejected the plea, emphasizing the bank’s “willful disobedience” of orders.
A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had issued a warning to the State Bank of India about potential contempt proceedings. While refraining from immediate contempt action, the court cautioned that such measures could be pursued if the bank fails to adhere to the specified timelines.
The bank had argued that the collection, verification, and release of data, stored in two confidential “silos,” would require additional time.
“We require a little more time to comply. We were informed that this is supposed to be confidential,” the bank stated, seeking an extension until June 30. However, this deadline extends beyond the conclusion of the 2024 general election.
In response, the Supreme Court pointed out that donor details were readily available at the SBI’s Mumbai branch, suggesting a straightforward process of disclosure.
“We did not instruct you to conduct the matching exercise. We simply asked for plain disclosure,” admonished the Chief Justice to the SBI. In a significant ruling last month, the Supreme Court declared the electoral bond scheme “unconstitutional,” citing its infringement on citizens’ right to information.
The SBI had been directed to disclose data by March 6, with the poll panel tasked with making this information public by March 13.
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