Electoral Bonds Case Hearing : Live Updates From Supreme Court [Day 3]

Sharma: We would have to collate.

CJI: We will have a look at your data.

Sharma: 6 months after the financial year.

CJI: Up till 31 March 2023 you have the data. You ought to have the data.

Sharma: Only the total quantum of EBs

CJI: And what is the bifurcation between the political parties- that too you'd have 

Sharma: I will instruct the commission...

Justice Khanna: Is the data till March 2023 now available?

Sharma: We seek the data from all political parties.

Justice Khanna: What's the time limit for the data to be given?

Sharma: Before the financial year ends.

Justice Khanna: You should have got the data when you were coming to the court...we read out that order that day. All of us expressed a view and we expected you to come back with that data.

Justice Khanna: This was an application for stay, if I'm not wrong.

CJI: Because the fresh window was opening up and Mr Prashant Bhushan sought a stay at that stage on collection of any further amount and distribution of any further EBs.

Sharma: It was not possible due to the order passed by this court subsequently on 26 March 2021.

Adv Sharma is referring to this order-

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/electoral-bonds-supreme-court-assembly-elections-171763

CJI: But we didn't freeze the data which was to be maintained. You were to continue collecting the data.

Justice Khanna: Mr Sharma you should have asked us.

Justice Khanna: Mr Sharma, the quantum of bonds is available with you?

Sharma: Yes.

Justice Khanna: Do we get any particular data? And is the data up to date till atleast March 2023?

Sharma: We don't have that...there was an order passed...

Adv Amit Sharma (for ECI): That is in a sealed cover. We have not opened that cover at all. My lords can peruse it but we cannot open it.

CJI: Mr Sharma, how much have you collected? You're not the SBI but in terms of the records you have what is the extent of the total quantum of electoral bonds which have been subscribed?