Landmark Verdict
The Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bonds scheme as unconstitutional, ordering disclosure of all donors and recipients, marking a landmark ruling on political funding transparency in India.
The Judgment
Key ruling elements:
Court Decision
| Aspect | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Electoral Bonds | Unconstitutional |
| Right to information | Voter's right |
| Privacy | Cannot override transparency |
| Disclosure | SBI ordered to provide data |
What Were Electoral Bonds?
The scheme explained:
Mechanism
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 2018 by Modi government |
| Anonymous | Donor identity hidden |
| Denominations | ₹1,000 to ₹1 crore |
| Encashment | Only registered parties |
| Validity | 15 days |
Constitutional Issues
Why it was struck down:
Court's Reasoning
| Ground | Argument |
|---|---|
| Right to Information | Article 19 violation |
| Quid pro quo | Corruption potential |
| Anonymity | Obscures influence |
| Accountability | Essential in democracy |
Disclosure Results
What the data revealed:
Key Findings
| Revelation | Finding |
|---|---|
| Top donors | Corporate entities |
| Top recipients | BJP majority |
| Total value | ₹16,000+ crore |
| Patterns | Government-linked companies |
Political Funding
Who benefited:
Party-wise Receipts
| Party | Approximate % |
|---|---|
| BJP | ~52% |
| Congress | ~10% |
| TMC | ~9% |
| Others | ~29% |
Opposition Response
Political reactions:
Criticism
| Allegation | Claim |
|---|---|
| Quid pro quo | Evidence cited |
| Extortion | Pattern allegations |
| ED timing | Post-donations claims |
| Investigation demand | JPC sought |
Government Position
BJP's defense:
Arguments
| Point | Position |
|---|---|
| Cash elimination | Intended purpose |
| Banking channel | Transparent |
| All parties | Benefited |
| Legal challenge | Respected verdict |
SBI Compliance
Data release:
Process
| Step | Status |
|---|---|
| Court order | Issued |
| Extension request | Denied |
| Data submission | To Election Commission |
| Public release | Via ECI |
Electoral Reforms
Future of political funding:
Options Discussed
| Reform | Status |
|---|---|
| State funding | Debated |
| Cap on donations | Under consideration |
| Transparency | Supreme Court mandated |
| New mechanism | Being explored |
Corporate Donations
Business-politics nexus:
Patterns Observed
| Observation | Detail |
|---|---|
| Large donors | Few corporate entities |
| Government contracts | Correlations noted |
| ED/IT action | Timing questions |
Looking Ahead
Political funding future:
Implications
- Transparency precedent
- New mechanisms needed
- State funding debate
- Corporate scrutiny
- Accountability enhanced
The Electoral Bonds verdict represents a significant judicial intervention in the realm of political finance, establishing transparency as a constitutional mandate.
