The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear pleas by several top industrial bodies against the disclosure of electoral bond numbers.
The five-member constitutional bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, refused to hear Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi who sought to argue an application filed by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) against the disclosure.
The bench observed that the judgement is already out and the court cannot entertain these applications.
“Your application is not numbered, it’s not registered. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander! Just because you’re appearing for a big client, we will not tolerate this. You have to follow the rules in my court,” the Chief Justice said.
“The whole world knew this matter is being heard… you come after the judgement is delivered… that’s not the way! If I do it for Mr Rohatgi, the Senior Counsel, as Chief Justice, I will not have the face to tell all other juniors to whom I deny oral mentioning in the morning. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I’ve made myself clear,” the CJI said.
The court further said that it doesn’t need any third party attendance.
‘We can’t hear you at this stage. We have told you why. We have to follow the procedure,” the court said.
The court also refused to entertain another application seeking the disclosure of electoral bond details from the first date of their issuance, March 1, 2018. It said that the disclosure has to be of details of electoral bonds after the date of its interim order, April 12, 2019.
Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court pulled up the State Bank of India over its non-disclosure of all details related to the electoral bonds. It asked the lender to furnish all bond-related details by 5 pm on March 21.
Source Agencies
