Supreme Court Dismisses SBI's Plea To Extend Deadline To Submit Electoral Bonds Information

The Supreme Court on Monday (11 March) dismissed the plea filed by the State Bank of India (SBI) to extend the deadline for disclosing the Electoral Bonds scheme data.

The five judge bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also directed the SBI to share the details with the Election Commission of India (ECI) by tomorrow (12 March).

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The poll body has been asked to publish the details on its website by 5 pm on Friday.

The court also warned that it will initiate contempt proceedings against the state-run bank if it does not provide the information by tomorrow.

A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered that the details be disclosed by 12 March.

"Submissions of SBI in application indicates that info sought is readily available. thus the application by SBI seeking extension of time until June 30 is dismissed. SBI is directed to disclose the details by the close of business hours of March 12, 2024," the Court ordered, Bar and Bench reported.

The bench also cautioned SBI of contempt of court in case it fails to comply with the Court's direction.

"Though we are not exercising the contempt jurisdiction, but we place SBI put on notice that this court will proceed against it for wilful disobedience of court if it does not adhere to the directions issued by the court," the order said.

The court had, in a landmark verdict on 15 February, scrapped the electoral bonds scheme and directed the Election Commission to make the details of donation public by 13 March.

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