The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to produce before it in sealed cover the “up to date” data of funds received by political parties through electoral bonds till September 30, 2023. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud referred to the April 12, 2019 interim direction passed by the apex court directing political parties to furnish the details of funds received by them through electoral bonds to the poll panel in a sealed cover.

The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the April 2019 order was not restrictive to the date on which it was pronounced, and if there was any ambiguity, it was necessary for the poll panel to seek a clarification from the top court. While hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties, the bench observed the ECI should have the up to date data.

“In any event, we now direct that the Election Commission shall produce up to date data until September 30, 2023 in terms of the interim direction which was issued on April 12, 2019,” the bench ordered.

It said the exercise be carried out within two weeks and data handed over to the registrar (judicial) of the apex court in a sealed cover.

The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the April 2019 order was not restrictive to the date on which it was pronounced, and if there was any ambiguity, it was necessary for the poll panel to seek a clarification from the top court. While hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties, the bench observed the ECI should have the up to date data.

“In any event, we now direct that the Election Commission shall produce up to date data until September 30, 2023 in terms of the interim direction which was issued on April 12, 2019,” the bench ordered.

It said the exercise be carried out within two weeks and data handed over to the registrar (judicial) of the apex court in a sealed cover.

The bench reserved its verdict on the petitions, including those filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), after hearing arguments for three days.