In the issue of electoral bonds, the SC asks the SBI, “What steps have you taken to disclose details of electoral bonds?”

A five-judge Supreme Court Constitution bench on Monday requested information from the State Bank of India (SBI) on the actions taken so far to guarantee the disclosure of information regarding electoral bonds that political parties had redeemed before to the program’s cancellation last month.

The bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud opened the important hearing by stating that it has instructed the SBI to do a “plain disclosure” in accordance with the court’s ruling.

A five-judge Constitution bench struck down the Center’s electoral bonds program, which permitted anonymous political funding, in a historic decision rendered on February 15. The court declared the program “unconstitutional” and mandated that the Election Commission disclose the names, amounts, and recipients of all donors by March 13.

“What actions have you performed in the last 26 days? The panel, which also included justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, said, “Your application is silent on that.”

The court said that all the SBI has to do is open the sealed cover, get the data, and provide it to the Election Commission.

Prior to the program’s termination, the State Bank of India requested an extension till June 30 in order to provide the specifics of every electoral bond that political parties redeemed.

A different petition is also being considered, asking for the SBI to be held in contempt.