Supreme Court to hear cases on poll bonds in January last week

The Supreme Court Thursday posted the pleas challenging the electoral bonds scheme, which allows anonymous funding to political parties, to the last week of January.

Prashant Bhushan, the counsel for NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause, argued that since weighty issues of public importance are involved, the matter should be referred to a five-judge constitution bench.

But a division bench of Justices B R Gavai and Vikram Nath observed that arguments from both sides need to be heard before deciding the plea.


A clutch of petitions, challenging nearly half a dozen provisions of the Finance Act, 2017, is already pending adjudication in the court. Last month, a fresh plea was filed in SC challenging a recent government move allowing an additional 15 days for the sale of bonds in a year when polls are held for legislative assemblies.