New Delhi, Feb 15: In a landmark verdict just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Supreme Court on Thursday scrapped the Centre’s electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding, calling it “unconstitutional” and ordering disclosure of the bond’s donors, amount and recipients by March 13. The verdict was seen as a blow to the Modi government.
Holding that the 2018 scheme was “violative” of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression and right to information, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud also rejected the Centre’s contention that it was meant to bring about transparency and curb black money in political funding.
It ordered that uncashed electoral bonds, which are within the validity period of 15 days, shall be returned by the political party or the purchaser to the issuing bank which in turn shall refund the amount to the purchaser’s account.
