SC bar chief seeks presidential reference on electoral bond ruling | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Seeking a relook of the SC’s verdict on electoral bonds, SC Bar Association chief Adish C Aggarwala Tuesday wrote to President Murmu requesting her to seek presidential reference on the ruling. Revealing names of contributing corporates would render them vulnerable to victimisation, he contended.
Later, an advocate posted on X a resolution purportedly passed by SCBA and signed by its honorary secretary Rohit Pandey that said “members of the executive committee have neither authorised the president to write any such letter nor do they subscribe to his views”.

Disclosing such sensitive information, that too retrospectively, will result in a chilling effect on corporate donations and participation in democratic process,” Aggarwala wrote. “The possibility of them (corporates) being singled out by parties that had received less contribution from them, and harassed cannot be ruled out if names of corporates and their quantum of contributions to parties are revealed. This will be reneging on promise given to them while accepting their voluntary contributions,” he wrote. Electoral bond scheme came into effect due to provisions of Finance Act, 2017, he said, adding “It would be perverse to doubt legislative intention behind this scheme… If we enforce this judgment retrospectively, releasing all sensitive information, it will shatter reputation the nation enjoys in international arena.” SCBA chief concluded in his letter to President Murmu, “I request you to withhold enforcement of SC ruling in electoral bonds case by seeking presidential reference.”