Electoral bonds: Selective anonymity may lead to victimisation, says SC

THE Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Centre's electoral bonds scheme "provide (only) selective anonymity... confidentiality" as its purchase records are available with the State Bank of India (SBI) and can be accessed by investigative agencies.

- JAISON WILSON

Hearing petitions challenging the legal validity of the electoral bonds scheme for the second day, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud noted that the problem with the scheme would be if it does not provide a level playing field to political parties and if it suffers from opacity.

Under the Central scheme, which was introduced in the Finance Act, 2017, electoral bonds can be issued or purchased from some authorised branches of the SBI.