12837 - From Aadhaar to probe into Judge Loya’s death: Cases in the Supreme Court this week - Hindustan Times

The Supreme Court will during the week continue to hear several important cases, including petitions that challenge 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:

A five-judge constitution bench led by CJI Dipak Misra will resume the hearing of petitions challenging the Aadhaar. 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 decision given in 1976, which upheld the suspension of fundamental rights, during the Emergency.

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 at the time of his demise, had termed his death “natural.”

Kerala State Haj Committee’s plea to have an all-India system to select pilgrims for the Haj pilgrimage will be heard by the CJI-led bench. The Centre is likely to give its response to the petition.Asserting that the current draw of lots system is discriminatory, the committee has contended that Kerala has a higher number of people who want to go for Haj than states like Bihar. The petition challenges the centre’s decision to revoke exemption given to fifth time applicants from the state.

Petition by Shafin Jahan, questioning the Kerala HC judgement annulling his marriage to Hadiya, a Hindu woman who converted to Islam, will also come up for hearing this week. On the last hearing, the top court had asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to stay away from probing into Hadiya’s choice to marry Jahan.

NIA has argued before SC that Hadiya was indoctrinated, radicalized and brainwashed.

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 members of parliaments.

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.

Thirty social activists from the state have assailed the HC direction to ban cow slaughter on the ground that it “violated” one’s right to choose food, which they said breaches the fundamental right to live.