SC reserves order on PIL challenging Centre's electoral bonds scheme for political funding, says verdict will be pronounced on Friday

The Supreme Court on Thursday has reserved its order on a PIL challenging the government's electoral bond scheme for political funding. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has said it would pronounce its order on Friday on the plea filed by NGO, Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The NGO, which has challenged the validity of the scheme, has sought interim relief including that either the issuance of electoral bonds be stayed or the names of the donors made public to ensure transparency in the poll process.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, supported the scheme saying the purpose behind it is to eliminate the use of black money in elections. 

"So far as the electoral bond scheme is concerned, it is the matter of policy decision of the government and no government can be faulted for taking a policy decision," said Venugopal.

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Opposing the pronouncement due on Friday, Attorney general KK Venugopal has asked the Supreme Court to not pass an order on the issue of electoral bonds during the ongoing election process. Centre too has urged the Supreme Court to not intervene in the issue and has sought the resolution of the matter be held after the completion of the election process. 

Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre has said that the electoral bonds have been a big step in ensuring transparency and accountability for political donations and before electoral bonds, a majority of the donations were done through cash which formed unaccounted money being put into polls. He also mentioned the benefits of electoral Bonds which had ensured that payments are made only through cheques, drafts, and direct debit thus not letting any black money to be pumped into polls.

Currently, phase-1 of Lok Sabha polls is underway in 20 states and Union territories with 1285 candidates contesting 91 seats in 1,69,400 polling centres on April 11, Thursday.

The 2019 Lok Sabha Elections will be held from April 11 to May 19 in seven phases, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 23. The results of the Lok Sabha polls will also be declared on May 23.