The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has escalated its legal battle against the State Bank of India (SBI) by filing a contempt petition in the Supreme Court. This move comes after the SBI sought an extension until June 30 to disclose details of electoral bonds encashed by various parties, despite a court order mandating disclosure by March 6.
In its petition, ADR accused the SBI of "wilful and deliberate disobedience" of the court's directives, emphasizing that such actions not only infringe upon citizens' right to information but also challenge the authority of the Supreme Court itself.
The development follows the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on February 15, which invalidated the electoral bonds scheme for political funding. The court cited violations of constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, as well as the right to information. As part of its verdict, the court instructed the SBI to furnish details of all electoral bonds encashed from April 2019 onwards to the Election Commission by March 6.
ADR's contempt petition underscores the intensifying legal confrontation over electoral transparency and accountability, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate surrounding political funding in India.