New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response of the Centre and the Election Commission on a plea seeking stay on the electoral bond scheme meant for funding political parties. The top court, however, refused to grant an interim stay on the electoral bond scheme. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant asked the Centre and the Election Commission to file their responses within two weeks to the interim application filed by NGO 'Association for Democratic Reforms' for staying the scheme.

Promoters Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan were arrested for their alleged involvement in the PMC bank scam. Currently, they are lodged in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, alleged that the scheme is a means for channelising unaccounted black money in favour of the ruing party. Bhushan also referred to a document of the RBI while seeking stay of the scheme. "We will see that. We are listing it after two weeks," the bench said. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the EC, said all these arguments have already been advanced earlier and sought four weeks time to reply to the plea of the NGO against the scheme.

The Supreme Court’s judgment has given some hope of a reprieve to the people of Kashmir, who have been facing an internet shutdown for the past five months