March 11: SC will consider SBI’s appeal regarding poll bonds

The State Bank of India’s (SBI) request for an extension of time till June 30 to provide information on electoral bonds that political parties have redeemed will be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday.

A five-judge Constitution Bench chaired by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud will also consider a motion filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) to hold the SBI in contempt for not providing the top court with information on electoral bonds that political parties have cashed by March 6; the ADR filed this motion after the court declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional on February 15.

The Constitution Bench, which also includes Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, has the issue scheduled for 10.30 a.m. on March 11.

In front of a bench chaired by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Thursday, attorney Prashant Bhushan had brought up the ADR’s appeal. The SBI had petitioned the Supreme Court on March 4 to extend the deadline until June 30 for disclosing information on each electoral bond issued and redeemed, citing “certain difficulties.”