Loya to Aadhaar cases, SC to have a busy week ahead

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will during the week continue to hear several important cases, including petitions challenging Aadhaar, pleas for probe into the death of special CBI judge BH Loya and the Kerala ‘love jihad’ case. A list of cases in the top court this week:

AADHAAR PETITIONS

A five-judge Constitution bench led by CJI Dipak Misra will resume the hearing of petitions challenging the Aadhaar programme. Arguing for the West Bengal government, Congress leader and senior advocate Kapil Sibal had said the consequences of a verdict in the case will be far more critical for the country than the 1976 top court decision to uphold the suspension of fundamental rights during the Emergency.

JUDGE LOYA

An apex court bench headed by CJI Misra will also take up petitions asking for an independent probe into the death of CBI special judge BH Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, when he died of cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014. Last week, the Maharashtra government had rebutted the charges levelled by the petitioners against the state and said the four judges, who were with Loya when he passed away, had termed his death “natural.”

HAJ PILGRIM SELECTION

Kerala State Haj Committee’s plea to have an all-India system to select pilgrims for the Haj pilgrimage will be heard by the CJIled bench. The Centre is likely to give its response to the petition.

Asserting that the current policy to grant state-wise quota for Haj pilgrims was discriminatory, the committee has contended that Kerala has a higher number of people who want to go for the Haj pilgrimage than states like Bihar.

PENSIONS FOR MPs

An SC bench led by Justice J Chelameswar will hear the plea filed by the Lucknow-based NGO Lok Prahari, seeking an end to the pensions given to parliamentarians. The petitioner has argued there are no guidelines for allowances received by MPs.

COW SLAUGHTER BAN

Cross petitions challenging Bombay HC verdict that banned cow slaughter in Maharashtra but allowed for sale and possession of beef brought into the state from outside will also come up for arguments.

Activists have challenged the HC order on the ground that it “violates” one’s right to choose food, which they said breaches the fundamental right to live.