Larger bench on Aadhaar case is likely today: CJI
New Delhi, Oct. 8: Attorney- General Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday informed the SC that transfer of most social security benefits to the
real beneficiaries has come to a standstill as the issue of extending the use of the Aadhaar
card for various other services is still pending. A bench headed by Chief
Justice H. L. Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra told the A- G that they would
take a decision on the composition of the bench
by Friday evening.
Attorney- general Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that transfer of most social security benefits to the real beneficiaries has come to a standstill as the issue of extending the use of Aadhaar card for various other services is still pending.
He pleaded before a bench of Chief Justice H. L. Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra for setting up the Constitution bench at the earliest to decide on extending the use of Aadhaar card for availing all social security benefits.
The CJI told the AG that he will take a decision on the composition of the bench and the listing of the applications by Friday evening and asked him to wait till then.
On Wednesday, a threejudge bench of Justices J. Chelameswar, S. A. Bobde and C. Nagappan had declined to pass orders on applications seeking modification/ clarification of the interim order restraining the authorities from insisting on Aadhaar card for availing benefits from the government.
On Thursday morning, a host of lawyers led by the AG pleaded before the CJI for early setting up of the bench, stating that the transfer of many social security benefits in the country had come to a standstill.
He said about 92 crore people had already been issued Aadhaar card and by this method lakhs of fake ration card holders had been eliminated and over ` 15,000 crores had been saved in this process. The real person to whom the services are provided had been identified and if someone wants to use Aadhaar card voluntarily to avail greater benefits even at the cost of waiving his right to privacy, it should be allowed. Other counsel endorsed the submissions of the AG and explained the urgency in the matter. The CJI then agreed to set up the Constitution bench immediately.