In a significant development, the Election Commission of India uploaded key data on electoral bonds submitted to the Supreme Court last year.
The ECI disclosed details of the purchase and redemption of electoral bonds by political parties on Sunday from its website. This comes after the SC directed the poll body to publish the information in a recent order.
In November 2023, the top court had asked ECI to furnish comprehensive data on donations received via bonds till September. The commission submitted over 500 sealed envelopes containing sensitive financial data.
However, ECI did not retain copies due to confidentiality. It then moved to the court seeking the return of documents, saying it could not comply with the fresh directive to publish the information.
Realizing it alone possessed the original records, the SC registry returned the envelopes to ECI. The commission wasted no time uploading the long-awaited disclosures on political funding for public scrutiny.
Electoral bonds have long been controversial over alleged opacity in political donations. Activists argue they shield corporate donors, weakening donation reforms.
By making the pivotal data public after two years, the ECI-SC initiative has ignited fresh debate on transparency in political financing on the eve of general elections. All eyes are now on the contours of the bonds regime.
