SC to hear final arguments in electoral bonds case on October 31
The Hindu
Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging electoral bonds scheme on Oct. 31; two issues concerning violation of Articles 19, 14 & 21 of Constitution to be focused on; AG agrees to early hearing; CJ asks if cash can be used to purchase bonds; petitioners argue scheme legalises anonymous donations and violates RTI.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed October 31 for hearing a slew of petitions challenging the electoral bonds scheme.
“We are here to decide the case,” Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud observed.
He was responding to submissions by advocate Prashant Bhushan, for petitioner-NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, that the legality of the scheme should be decided by the top court before the 2024 general election.
Having this timeline in mind, the court agreed to the petitioners’ urging to focus primarily on two issues concerning the electoral bonds scheme, that is, the legalisation of anonymous donations to political parties and the violation of citizens’ right to information about the funding of political parties, promoting corruption. The two issues concern violation of Articles 19, 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
When given a choice by the court during the hearing, Mr. Bhushan said he would go ahead with the hearing on these two substantial issues rather than await a seven-judge Bench judgment on the legal question as to “when a Bill could be designated a Money Bill”. The electoral bonds scheme was passed as a Money Bill, circumventing the Rajya Sabha. Mr. Bhushan apprehended that the seven-judge Bench may not be able to deliver its judgment ahead of the Lok Sabha poll likely to be scheduled in May.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani said he did not want the government to be seen trying to delay the hearing in the case, and agreed for an early hearing of the case. “I just want to get along,” he said.
The hearing saw Chief Justice Chandrachud ask the petitioners certain preliminary questions in order to ascertain the contours of the legal challenge.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.