ADR petitions the Supreme Court to hold SBI in contempt in the electoral bonds matter

The Supreme Court received a contempt suit from the Association for Democratic changes (ADR), an advocacy organization for electoral changes, on Thursday. The SBI had been asked to provide information on electoral bonds that political parties had redeemed for four months.

Before a bench chaired by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, advocate Prashant Bhushan brought up the ADR’s case. The bench decided to take it up once the petitioner finished the filing procedures.

The State Bank of India (SBI) filed a request with the Supreme Court on Monday, citing “certain practical difficulties,” asking for an extension of time until June 30 to provide information on each electoral bond that political parties have redeemed.

Previously, the highest court had mandated that the SBI cease issuing Election Bonds right away and provide the Election Commission with all information by March 6. The Election Commission is then required to make all contributions public by March 13. It had said that political parties were required to return all Electoral Bonds to the buyers within the allotted 15-day validity period.