'Unconstitutional': SC Strikes Down Electoral Bonds Scheme

BY A STAFF REPORTER: In a significant development, the Supreme Court passed a verdict against the electoral bonds scheme and termed it unconstitutional on 15th February, Thursday.

While delivering a unanimous verdict on pleas challenging the center's electoral bonds scheme, the Apex Court stated that the scheme violates Article 19(1)(A) and shall be struck down as it is unconstitutional. Moreover, the top court banks to forthwith stop issuing electoral bonds

SC further instructed SBI to provide details of electoral bonds encashed by political parties and submit them to the Election Commission of India which will subsequently publish the details on its website.

The central government's electoral bonds scheme allows anonymous funding to the political parties. It was launched in 2018. As per SC, it violates Article 19(1)(A) which comes under the fundamental rights and gives citizens the right to freedom of speech.