Aadhaar to Rohingya, SC to hear key cases this week

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear a clutch of important cases this week, including likely final arguments on behalf of those challenging the Aadhaar scheme and making the biometric number mandatory for various services such as bank accounts and mobile phones.

A Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra began hearing 30 petitioners on January 17. Attorney general K Venugopal will make his submissions on behalf of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) – the agency responsible for issuing the 12-digit unique identity number.

The top court last week indefinitely extended the deadline to link Aadhaar with services such as bank accounts, mobile phone and to procure a passport under the Tatkal programme.

Besides Aadhaar, the court is slated to hear a case related to deportation of Rohingya refugees. A bench led by Chief Jus- tice Misra will examine the government’s latest affidavit in the case, denying allegations that it was using chili spray and stun grenades to push back refugees along the Indo-myanmar border.

A bench headed by the Chief Justice will hear the contentious Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid land title dispute on March 23.

A special three-judge bench had decided to determine whether a 1994 judgment, upholding the land acquisition for the disputed plot until the litigation ended, needs reference to a larger bench. In case the reference is made, the main title dispute will be put in abeyance.

Advocates representing Islamic organisations and parties have questioned the 1994 ruling because it had declared that a mosque is not integral to a Muslim’s right to religion. This, the parties contended, would have a bearing on the case and a bench of at least seven judges should relook it.

Several petitions challenging the i nsolvency proceedings against realtor Jaypee Infratech Limited would be taken up by a bench of Chief Justice.

In February, the bench refused to stay the bidding initiated to raise money for completion of the developer’s delayed projects as part of its debt-resolution process.

In another case, the Centre is expected to give its response to a lawyer’s plea seeking a probe into the alleged leak of the staff selection commission (SSC) question paper. The recruitment exam was conducted in February.