During a recent hearing on the electoral bonds case at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud reprimanded a lawyer for raising his voice. The incident occurred during a session where a five-judge Constitution bench, led by CJI Chandrachud, was reviewing petitions related to the scrapped electoral bonds scheme.
In a viral video capturing the exchange, CJI Chandrachud cautioned advocate Mathews Nedumpara against shouting in the courtroom. He emphasized the decorum of the court, stating, “Don’t shout at me! This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting, you are in the court.” The Chief Justice directed the advocate to file an application if he wished to present his arguments and reminded him of the court’s protocol.
Nedumpara had been asserting that the judgment on electoral bonds was made without the citizens’ knowledge. He argued that the matter was not justiciable and fell under the purview of policy, suggesting that the decision was made without public awareness.
Despite repeated warnings from the CJI to pause and listen, the advocate persisted. Justice BR Gavai intervened, accusing the lawyer of obstructing the administration of justice and threatening him with contempt. Following the stern warning, the lawyer appeared to calm down.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court issued directives to the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all relevant details to the Election Commission of India regarding electoral bonds, including unique alphanumeric numbers corresponding to each bond. The court instructed the SBI Chairman to file a compliance affidavit by March 21.
The apex court also mandated the Election Commission to promptly upload the received information from SBI onto its website. This directive aligns with the court’s February 15 judgment, which required the disclosure of details such as purchase/redemption dates, purchaser/recipient names, and bond denominations.
Recent data released by the Election Commission revealed that the BJP had encashed ₹6,060 crore over five years through the electoral bonds scheme. Additionally, 1,260 entities purchased 22,217 bonds totaling ₹12,155.51 crore between 2019 and 2024. Among the top donors to political parties were Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd.
The Supreme Court’s actions underscore its commitment to transparency and accountability in electoral funding, aiming to ensure fair and open processes in India’s democratic system.
Comments