SC set to hear petitions challenging Electoral Bond Scheme on October 31

The Supreme Court on Tuesday scheduled October 31 for the final hearing of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bond scheme used for political party funding.

- ASHISH SINHA

A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra acknowledged lawyer Prashant Bhushan's request for expedited adjudication before the scheme is employed in the 2024 general elections. Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), argued that anonymous funding through electoral bonds fosters corruption and infringes upon citizens' right to a corruption-free nation. He said, "This promotes corruption as the source of funding is anonymous, it is violative of Article 21, and the 'non-decision' in the case compounds the problem."

The bench responded, "We are here and hearing this now." After considering preliminary submissions on the electoral bond scheme, the bench set four petitions for final hearing on October 31 and indicated a continuation on November 1 if necessary.