Aadhaar: SC’s 5-judge to begin hearing on right to privacy from July 18

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jul 12 2017,DH News: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to set up a five-judge Constitution bench to hear Aadhaar pleas and to determine if right to privacy is a fundamental right.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice J S Khehar allowed a plea made by Attorney General K K Venugopal and senior advocate Shyam Divan for constituting a larger bench to adjudicate upon the question as raised in challenge to validity of Aadhaar.

The five-judge would begin the hearing from July 18. The CJI told the counsel that the hearing would have to be finished within two days.

The Narendra Modi government’s move to link Aadhaar with various welfare schemes has been challenged by a group of social activists. They claimed that Aadhaar compromised with their right to privacy as it mandated people to part with body details, including iris and biometrics.

The government, however, claimed the decision has helped it to save thousands of crores, which was earlier being eaten away by the ghost beneficiaries.