CJI MISRA SET TO DELIVER 10 KEY JUDGMENTS IN LAST 20 DAYS

NEW DELHI: With just 20 working days left in the term of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, verdicts in at least 10 important cases, including a key case related to the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid case, are expected over the next few weeks.

Perhaps the most keenly-awaited ruling by a bench led by CJI Misra is the one on the NDA government’s ambitious push for Aadhaar, the biometric-based national identification platform. Petitions filed by social activists have challenged the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and its enabling 2016 law. A constitution bench had on May 10 reserved the verdict after a marathon 38-day hearing, spanning four months.

A Constitution bench is also expected to deliver its verdict on petitions demanding decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises homosexuality. The verdict was reserved on July 17. A threejudge bench headed by justice Misra will answer the pertinent question on whether a mosque is integral to Islam.

A ruling on this is necessary before the top court takes up the Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid title dispute.

On July 20, a three-judge special bench reserved its verdict after Muslim parties demanded a reconsideration of the 1994 M Ismail Farooqui judgement holding a mosque is not integral to Islam. If the bench rules in favour of the Muslim parties then the matter will be referred to a larger bench of seven judges.