भारत की उच्चतम न्यायालय ने एसबीआई से राजनीतिक निधि दाता-प्राप्तकर्ता के डेटा के लिए पूछा।

India's Top Court Asks SBI for Data to Link Political Fund Donors, Recipients

India's Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all information regarding electoral bonds, a contentious aspect of political funding in the country. This move comes just a month before the general elections, highlighting the urgency and significance of transparency in the electoral process.

Electoral bonds, introduced in 2017 as a means of political funding, have been subject to scrutiny due to their opaque nature. The recent scrapping of these bonds in February has heightened public interest, particularly regarding the disclosure of donor and recipient identities along with the amounts involved. Corporate funding of political parties is a delicate issue in India, and the revelation of such details has become a focal point in the lead-up to the elections scheduled for May.

The Supreme Court's directive to the SBI includes submitting unique identification numbers of the electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India. This step aims to facilitate the matching of donors with recipients, thereby shedding light on the flow of funds in political circles. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized the need for comprehensive disclosure, stressing the importance of clarity in the matter.

Furthermore, the Election Commission has been instructed to promptly make this information public. Last week, the commission disclosed some data on donations made since April 2019 under the electoral bond scheme, showcasing significant contributions from major corporations like Vedanta Ltd, Bharti Airtel, RPSG Group, and Essel Mining. However, this data did not establish direct links between donors and recipients, leaving room for speculation.

Critics argue that electoral bonds have enabled companies to obscure their donations, potentially influencing political decisions without public accountability. The dominance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in receiving these donations has fueled concerns about favouritism and undue influence in governance.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of using electoral bonds for extortion, an allegation vehemently denied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration. Such allegations underscore the contentious nature of political funding in India and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

In essence, the Supreme Court's intervention seeks to address the opacity surrounding electoral bonds and ensure greater transparency in political financing, crucial for upholding democratic principles and fostering public trust in the electoral system.

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