The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an application on March 24 seeking stay of the release of new set of electoral bonds, ahead of assembly polls in Kerala, West Bengal, Pudhucherry and Assam.
The Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Association for Democratic Reforms, mentioned the application before the Chief Justice of India today for urgent listing.
"I wanted to mention Electoral Bonds matter. which has been pending here since 2017. The last hearing took place two years ago. Whenever electoral bonds are released, we file application to stay. Now new set of bonds are to be released in April. We want the application to be heard very urgently. ECI, RBI have all stated that these bonds allow transfer of illicit black money from shell companies", Bhushan told the CJI.
Then the CJI asked for any earlier refusal to the stay. To this, Bhushan replied that stay was not rejected but two years ago, the Court said that was not the stage to consider stay and to ask the parties to furnish details to the Court in sealed cover.
On His reply, the CJI said for listing the matter on March 26 but Bhushan sought for an earlier date pointing out that new bonds are slated for release on April 1.