Angry Exchange Between CJI Chandrachud and Advocate During Electoral Bonds Hearing”

A heated confrontation erupted during a Supreme Court hearing on March 18 regarding the Electoral Bonds case, as Chief Justice DY Chandrachud rebuked advocate Mathews Nedumpara for raising his voice.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Nedumpara can be seen asserting that the entire judgment in the Electoral Bond case was delivered without the knowledge of citizens. Despite attempts by the judges to express their disagreements, Nedumpara persisted in talking over them and raising his voice.

In response, an angered CJI Chandrachud firmly stated, “DON’T SHOUT AT ME! If you want to move an application, file an application. WE ARE NOT HEARING YOU.” Justice Gavai also intervened, warning Nedumpara about a potential contempt notice.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court took a stern stance against the State Bank of India (SBI) during the hearing, questioning why the bank was evasive in providing information about electoral bonds. The court directed SBI to disclose all bond numbers and submit an affidavit by Thursday evening confirming that no information has been withheld. This directive follows the court’s ruling on February 15, which invalidated the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional and mandated the disclosure of all relevant details.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan raised concerns about the non-disclosure of donor names, to which Justice Gavai clarified that the court is not currently reviewing that aspect. The court’s insistence on full disclosure marks a significant step in the electoral bond case, indicating progress in ensuring transparency and accountability in political funding.