Last Modified: Sat, Dec 26 2015. 12 35 AM IST
SC sets constitution bench hearings from 11 January
Ten cases have been listed for consideration of the constitution bench, whose composition is not known yet
Shreeja Sen
New Delhi: A five-judge constitution bench will hear cases for two hours on Mondays and Fridays from 11 January, according to a notice on the Supreme Court’s website.
Ten cases have been listed for consideration of the constitution bench. The composition of the bench is not known yet.
Chief justice T.S. Thakur on 10 December said he would set up constitution benches to deal with the 29 cases pending before the court. “On Mondays and Fridays, judges get free by 1-1.30 p.m. We can request judges to stay back to hear constitution bench cases,” he had said.
The Aadhaar case is pending before the Supreme Court. It affects key government projects, including biometric attendance, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, digital certificates, pension payments and payments banks.
Through two orders, on 11 August and 15 October, the Supreme Court had restricted the use of Aadhaar unique identity numbers for schemes like public distribution system, distribution of cooking gas and kerosene, the rural jobs guarantee scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, central and state government pensions, and the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme.
While the present list does not include the Aadhaar case, the move to deal with pending cases was considered positive.
“It is good that the Supreme Court will start hearing cases referred to the constitution bench as that gives hope to Aadhaar. However, it is yet to be seen when the bench to hear this case is constituted as it has to be a larger bench. An early hearing will bring clarity on the issue in terms of using the unique identity for various schemes,” a Unique Identification Authority of India official said, requesting anonymity.
The cases to be heard from 11 January include one relating to the plea seeking that the right to life include the right to die with dignity and the power of a government to remove a governor.
Saurabh Kumar contributed to this report.