The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on May 17 a plea challenging various notifications of the Centre to make Aadhaar card mandatory for availing benefits of government schemes.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar agreed to the contention of senior advocate Shyam Divan that the Aadhaar matter needed to be heard on an urgent basis.
Series of notifications
“Despite the order of this court that Aadhaar will be voluntary and not mandatory, the government has been coming out with a series of notifications making it mandatory to avail benefits of schemes like scholarships, Right to Food and mid-day meal in schools,” Mr. Divan, appearing for Shanta Sinha, former chairperson of National Commission For Protection of Child Rights and one of the petitioners in the Aadhaar matter, said.
Mr. Divan appealed that a two-judge bench hear the petitions.
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, contested the submission, saying that even interim orders vis-a-vis Aadhaar have been passed by a five-judge bench and it would not be appropriate to list the plea before a two-judge bench.
