A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, directed the ECI to submit the data in a sealed packet within two weeks.
The Central government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court donations made through Electoral Bonds, which allow for anonymous funding to political parties, are kept anonymous to protect the privacy and political affiliation of the citizens who make such donations to political parties.
A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was told that Electoral Bonds have nothing to do with the election and there is no accountability.
Attorney General for India, R Venkataramani while defending the validity of Electoral Bonds which facilitate anonymous donations to political parties, has told the Supreme Court that citizens do not have the fundamental right to be informed about the sources of political funding.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra sent the matter for adjudication to the Constitution bench in view of the importance of the issue.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for hearing on October 31 a batch of pleas challenging the central government's Electoral Bond Scheme which provides for funding to political parties
The government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme on January 2, 2018. Electoral bonds were introduced to "cleanse the system of political funding" in India.
The bonds are available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in the months of January, April, July and October, as may be specified by the central government.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said it will consider on April 11 if the Electoral Bonds case should be referred to a five-judge Constitution bench.
The Supreme Court on Thursday posted for hearing the pleas challenging the government's Electoral Bond scheme allowing anonymous funding to political parties in the last week of January.