(Image source from: India.com)
Constitution Bench To Be Set Up By SC To Hear Aadhaar Pleas: To hear a clutch of petition, a constitution bench would be setup, said the Supreme Court. It would be to challenge the Centre's decision to make Aadhaar mandatory for availing various services and government welfare schemes.
The larger bench would start hearing on these petitions in the last week of November this year, said a bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.
The West Bengal government was questioned by the apex court, earlier on Monday, for filing a petition. To make Aadhaar compulsory for availing benefits of various social welfare schemes, the petition, challenged the Centre’s move. The court further asked how a state can challenge the mandate of Parliament. The apex court also asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to file the plea as an individual.
The Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution, held a nine-judge Constitution bench recently. The issue was raised by several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar and that the scheme was violative of privacy rights. Opposing the Aadhaar scheme. urgent hearing on the petitions, was sought by Senior advocates Gopal Subramanium and Shyam Divan.
The apex court was told by the Centre on October 25 the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail the benefits of the government schemes has been extended till March 31 next year. And for those who do not have the 12-digit biometric identification number and were willing to have it.
The linking of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) number with bank accounts and mobile numbers was termed as illegal and unconstitutional by the petitoners. They strongly opposed to the CBSE's move to make it mandatory for students to appear for exams.
Earlier, final hearing in the main Aadhaar matter was necessary, contended Divan, appearing for some of the petitioners. This is because the government "cannot compel" citizens to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or mobile numbers. However, the final hearing in the main Aadhaar matter, is pending before the apex court.
SUPRAJA
