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The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down electoral bonds and demand disclosure of transactional information since April 12, 2019, has sparked significant public interest. However, the lack of transparency regarding bonds sold before that date remains a concern, indicating potential challenges in remedying the situation despite the court’s directives to the Election Commission of India.

Interim order of April 12, 2019.

The Supreme Court’s interim order of April 12, 2019, during the challenge to electoral bonds, highlighted weighty issues impacting the sanctity of the electoral process. While it didn’t stay the scheme, it directed political parties to submit detailed information about electoral bonds received, including donor details, bond amount, date, and the bank involved. Despite this, transparency remains elusive regarding electoral bonds worth over Rs 4,000 crore sold before April 12, 2019, posing a challenge even with the court’s directives to the Election Commission of India.

Disclosures by the ECI make the cut?

In conclusion, despite the Election Commission of India’s disclosures, it’s probable that the people of India will still lack clarity regarding the identities of purchasers of electoral bonds totaling over Rs 4,000 crore, which accounts for a significant portion of the total bond transactions. This potential lack of transparency underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring accountability and fairness in electoral financing processes.