Poll bonds most transparent system, centre tells SC

A Supreme Court bench will on December 6 decide if petitions challenign the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties needs to be referred to a larger bench. When the case was taken up on Friday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties has been the "most transparent system", countering petitioners' contention that it involves issues that "strike at the root of democracy".

There is no scope for black money in the electoral bonds scheme, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended before a two-judge bench of Justices BR Gavai and BV Nagarathna during the resumed hearing of petitions on the electoral bonds scheme.

"Methodology of donation is so transparent; it is impossible to get black money... It is most transparent and to say it strikes at democracy is wrong," he argued.


The submission came in response to a contention by advocate Prashant Bhushan that the case involves issues that strike at the root of democracy.

Two NGOs - Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Common Cause - have challenged amendments allowing electoral bonds, unlimited donations even by subsidiaries of companies, and retrospective changes to Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, Bhushan apprised the bench.

Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, also appearing for petitioners, contended that the matter might have to be heard by a larger bench in view of the importance of the issues raised.