Electoral Bonds: SC to hear on July 22 plea for SIT probe into quid pro quo between corporates & political parties
The petitioners have sought the SIT probe under the supervision of a retired judge of the Supreme Court.
The petitioners have sought the SIT probe under the supervision of a retired judge of the Supreme Court.
Addressing an election meeting in Jaunpur district, Mayawati said that the BSP is contesting the elections independently, without forming any alliance with the Congress, BJP, or any other parties.
Both the NGOs have said that the alleged scam amounting to crores of rupees through electoral bonds can be unravelled only through an independent probe by the SIT under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Prashant Bhushan informed that Anjali Bhardwaj, a member of Common Cause, and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) have filed the petition and he is the lawyer on their behalf.
Ramesh, who is the Congress MP in Rajya Sabha further said, “This is the most important election of our lifetime. Thankfully, as ground reports make clear, this corrupt brigade is on its way out.”
“I believe that the decision taken by the Supreme Court will bring transparency in the elections,” said party leader and Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai.
Defending the electoral bond scheme, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, said it was a norm that the ruling party gets a major chunk of donations.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan was arguing for NGO Association for Democratic Reforms and senior advocate Kapil Sibal talked about the opacity of the scheme.
The contention of the Centre is, “Firstly, there can be no general right to know anything and everything without being subjected to reasonable restrictions. Secondly, the right to know as necessary for expression can be for specific ends or purposes and not otherwise.”
The Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, heading a bench also comprising Justice J B Paridwala and Justice Manoj Misra, said it would hear the arguments in the case on October 31 and if they remain inconclusive on that day, it will continue on November 1 as well.