‘ Transparent, No compass of Black Money ’ Centre Defends Electoral Bond Scheme Before Supreme Court

The Central government on Friday defended the Electoral Bond scheme, by saying it's the most “ transparent" way for political backing, and there's “ no compass of black money". 

“ The methodology of entering the plutocrat is so transparent, now it’s insolvable to get black or unaccounted plutocrat," submitted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, before a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai, and also comprising Justice BV Nagarathna. 

The Solicitor General also told the bench that the court should go into what the factual system of electoral bond is. 

While elderly Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the pleaders explained the challenge. “ Three important connected questions which would go to the roots of the Republic. The issues are — Electoral Bonds, whether political parties come under RTI and third is, whether donations to public retainers can be granted beyond the compass of FCRA( Foreign Contribution( Regulation) Act, 2010)," Bhushan argued. 

elderly Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the electoral bonds are an opaque structure and further translucency is needed. “ In an opaque way of backing political parties this is a matter which shall be heard by a larger bench," Sibal said. 

Bhushan also said the matter needs critical consideration as the schedule for the forthcoming choices will be blazoned at the moment. 

The Supreme Court also said it would examine on December 6 whether a batch of pleas challenging laws permitting backing of political parties through the electoral bond scheme should be pertained to a larger bench. 

The court is hearing a solicitation filed by the Association for Popular Reforms( ADR). 

The matter last came up in the court on March 26, 2021, when a bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India SA Bobde dismissed an operation filed by ADR seeking a stay on any fresh trade of electoral bonds ahead of the Assembly elections that were due at the time.