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Latest updates The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has assembled to hear 29 pleas against Aadhaar among other important matters. The petitioners have started arguments. The bench will hear some extremely important cases beginning Wednesday. The court will take up 29 pleas against Aadhaar. The final hearing on the pleas challenging Aadhaar comes five years since the first was filed. Comprising CJI Dipak Misra, Justice AK Sikri, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan, the bench
will take up eight crucial cases, including Aadhaar, the validity of Section 377 of IPC which criminalises homosexual acts, the validity of adultery law under the IPC, entry of women into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple and other cases. None of the four judges who spoke out against the CJI — Justice J Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice MB Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph — feature on the Constitution Bench. According to an
Economic Times report, a petition has been filed by the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) which comprises startups such as CapitalFloat, LendingKart, ZestMoney, IndiaLends as well as early-stage investment firms and companies which provide authentication services and background verifications. These companies are particularly appealing to ensure advantages such as eKYC offered by Aadhaar help a lot in real-time verification of customers. Loya’s case: SC leaves it to Maha govt to hand over documents The Supreme Court on Tuesday left it to the Maharashtra government to decide which documents, relating to the death of special CBI judge BH Loya, could be handed over to the petitioners who have sought an independent probe into it. The state government, which filed documents in a sealed cover relating to Loya’s death, had during the hearing opposed the petitioners’ demand that the entire material should be handed over to them for perusal. [caption id=“attachment_4295365” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP[/caption] The apex court, in its order which was uploaded on its website late in the evening, said, “Let the documents be placed on record within seven days and if it is considered appropriate, copies be furnished to the petitioners. Put up before the appropriate bench”. After the order was uploaded, the standing counsel for Maharashtra said their team of lawyers, including senior advocate Harish Salve, would scan and verify all the documents in consultation with the concerned department and take a call on the issue of handing over the documents. The case, whose assignment to the bench hearing the PILs was a bone of contention of the unprecedented press conference by the four senior-most judges of the apex court, came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and MM Shantanagoudar. CJI meets 4 rebel judges, they too meet on their own The dissenting judges of the Supreme Court, who had hurled accusations against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on several issues, on Tuesday met among themselves, amid hectic parleys between other judges to resolve the crisis. Their meeting came hours after the CJI reached out to them at the apex court lounge and held parleys with them over tea, before starting the day’s proceedings in the apex court. It is learnt that Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph had a meeting but nothing concrete has emerged. The meeting in the evening took place at the residence of one of these judges. However, the outcome of the deliberations is not known. Sources said the judges are likely to meet the CJI tomorrow morning as usual and probably some more deliberations are on the cards as hectic parleys are on to restore normalcy in the top court’s functioning. “As of now, nothing concrete has emerged,” sources close to the four judges said.
Supreme Court updates: Aadhaar is giant electronic leash, will cause death of citizen's rights, says petitioner in court
A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear some extremely important cases beginning Wednesday, including those on Aadhaar and the validity of Section 377.
 "Supreme Court updates: Aadhaar is giant electronic leash, will cause death of citizen's rights, says petitioner in court")
Meanwhile… Aadhaar tweets out ‘myth busters’ intermittently; claims banking, financial data not tracked via UIDAI
आधार एक पहचानक मात्र है, कोई प्रोफाइलिंग उपकरण नहीं।#AadhaarMythBuster pic.twitter.com/t93bWUyzkp
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) January 17, 2018
SD: the UK abandoned its identity system beacause it was "unsafe, untested.... and could be a threat to personal rights." (still quoting the Standing Committee)
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
United Kingdom revoked it biometric database, petitioner tells SC
SD points to the Committee's observation that the United Kingdom revoked its national biometric database.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Architecture that allows surveillance not permissible: Divan
#Aadhaar: You make take several steps to prevent leakages. But still an architecture which allows surveillance is not be permissible, Shyam Divan.
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) January 17, 2018
Ensuring Aadhaar data is not misused not enough to grant it legality, petitioners argue in case
Justice Chandrachud asked that if the government ensures that Aadhaar data is used only for the purpose it is collected, will it address the concerns raised by the petitioners. To this the petitioner’s lawyer replied that the design in itself is bad as it allows State domination. Shyam Divan further argued that the problem is not that whether the State is actually tracking its citizens or not but the fact that the Aadhaar makes it possible.
Aadhaar alters the relationship between the citizen and the State
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan today submitted in court that Aadhaar seems too alter the relationship between the citizen and the State, while diminishing the status of the citizen. All rights, a citizen could earlier freely assert have now been made part of a “compulsory barter”, averring, “The barter compels the citizen to give up his biometrics ‘voluntarily’, unless the number is seeded in databases of the service provider, the citizen is denied access to these most essential facilities. “Inalienable and natural rights are dependent on a compulsory exaction.”
As reported by Live and Law‘People’s Constitution is being sought to be converted into a State’s Constitution’
#Aadhaar case: Senior Supreme Court lawyer, Shyam Divan, appearing for petitioners, told the five-judge Constitution bench that '#Aadhaar may cause death of citizens' civil rights. A people's Constitution is being sought to be converted into a State's Constitution.'
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2018
Aadhaar act cannot be used to deny basic amenities, rights or benefits, says petitioner’s lawyer Shyam Divan
#AadhaarCase | Shyam Divan also argues that #Aadhaar Act cannot be used to deny basic amenities, rights or benefits pic.twitter.com/nSUvl1Gb4L
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) January 17, 2018
Collection of crucial biometric data for 7 years illegal, passing Aadhaar act doesn’t cure illegality, petitioner tells court
SD: When you are picking up sensitive data for seven years, there must be some standard of governance.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
SD says that biometric collection was patently illegal, and that illegality was not cured by the passing of the Aadhaar Act.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Aadhaar a giant electronic leash, says petitioner in court
#Aadhaar: Sr adv Shyam Divan, for petitioners, argues:
— News18 Courtroom (@News18Courtroom) January 17, 2018
* Aadhaar may cause death of civil rights of citizens
* State will dominate citizens
* A people's Constitution is being sought to be converted into a State's Constitution
(2/3)
#Aadhaar: Divan adds:
— News18 Courtroom (@News18Courtroom) January 17, 2018
* People's rights can't be tethered to a switch
* Aadhaar is a giant electronic leash
* Aadhaar was an advent of all intrusive State which recognises numbers and not people
Arguments to resume at 2.30 PM
(3/3)
Hearing resumes, final arguments in Aadhaar case begins
The final arguments in Aadhaar case begin before the Constitution Bench of Supreme Court. At the start of the arguments, Attorney General sought time bound arguments. A-G reminded the Bench that Ramjanmabhoomi land title dispute case is also scheduled to be taken up from 8 February.
Retired High Court judge and accused IM Quddusi moves CBI court against leak of phone records
#MCI scam: Retd HC judge and accused IM Quddusi moves CBI court against leak of phone records.
— News18 Courtroom (@News18Courtroom) January 17, 2018
He seeks probe against those behind the leak, questioning whether CBI leaked records.CBI court to hear case on Jan 22. A website and NGO CJAR have release the transcripts.
Since Supreme Court’s 2013 verdict on homosexuality, at least 10 countries have legalised homosexuality
A total of five countries — Uruguay, New Zealand, France, Brazil, and England and Wales — legalised gay sex in 2013. Here is the full report on how the world has changed its views on homosexuality since 2013.
What two recent SC judgments tell us about court’s altered view on sexuality and privacy in India
Ajay Kumar writing for _Firstpost_ details that two judgments, one regarding rights of transgender people and the other about the Right to Privacy show that the court’s view has changed considerably on sexuality and privacy.
Judges meeting for lunch
India Today reported that the CJI is meeting the judges for lunch. Three of the dissenting judges are present at the meeting. Justice Chelameswar is absent. Justice Bobde and Justice Goel are not present as well.
Petitioners’ profiles
Petitioner profiles here: https://t.co/R6r64AkNFn Court rose 10 mins early today. Twitter trouble. Arguments to resume at 1430 hrs.
— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) January 17, 2018
Hearing to resume at 2.30 pm
Bench rises for lunch. To resume at 2 30. Cheers.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Shyam Divan explains the different aspects of the project
....is causing widespread exclusion all across the country where people are unable to access basic services. And how authentication failures report are unacceptably high.
— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) January 17, 2018
Shyam Divan takes Court through work of the petitioners to counter the State’s claims that there are only elitist concerns against Aadhaar
The petitioners include ex-servicemen, social workers, Magsaysay award winners among others.
SD takes the Court through the work and the qualifications of the petitioners, such as Sudhir Vombatkere (35 years in uniform), Bezwada Wilson (founder of Safai Karmachari Angolan)...
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Shyam Divan for the petitioners: Aadhaar a system of exclusion
SD: The petitioners before you are people who work in the field. They work in rural India and study rural India. They have found that Aadhaar is operating as a system of exclusion.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Shyam Divan for the petitioners: You cannot live as a citizen of India without an Aadhaar
SD: Effectively today, you cannot live as a citizen of India without an Aadhaar.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Shyam Divan is taking the court through the history of the case
SD: In 2012, many citizens filed PILs against the Aadhaar scheme. In 2013, a two judge bench referred the matter for final hearing, and made it clear that nobody should suffer from lack of an Aadhaar card.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Link to Shyam Divan’s opening statement
(Link to opening statement: https://t.co/NnvzO1iQGt )
— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) January 17, 2018
The petitioners’ alternative argument
SD: If the Aadhaar Act is upheld, then in the alternative, no citizen should be deprived of any right or benefit for the lack of an Aadhaar card.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Petitioners: The State is empowered with a ‘switch’ by which it can cause the civil death of an individual
SD:The State is empowered with a ‘switch’ by which it can cause the
— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) January 17, 2018
civil death of an individual. Where every basic facility is linked to
Aadhaar and one cannot live in society without an Aadhaar
number, the switching off of Aadhaar completely destroys the
individual.
Shyam Divan lays out the scope of the constitutional challenge
Shyam Divan lays out the scope of the constitutional challenge.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Petitioners: The case at hand is unique. There are few judicial precedents to guide us
SD: The case at hand is unique. In part, this is because the programme
— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) January 17, 2018
challenged here is itself without precedent. No democratic society
has adopted a programme that is similar in its command and sweep.
There are few judicial precedents to guide us.
Petitioners argue that if the Aadhaar programme is allowed to continue unimpeded, it will hollow out the Constitution
SD: Through a succession of marketing strategies and smoke and mirrors, the government had rolled out a program designed to tether every citizen to an electronic leash.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
Attorney-General KK Venugopal asks for time allotment for arguments
Before Shyam Divan can begin, A-G submits that this is a matter where there are many counsel on both sides and that there should be a time allotment.
— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) January 17, 2018
The Aadhaar bench has assembled in Courtroom 1
Aadhaar bench assembles.
— Gautam Bhatia (@gautambhatia88) January 17, 2018
“Tuesday was a sunny day at the Supreme Court after days of clouds over its cohesiveness and probity”
“A new day seems to be in order in the Supreme Court after clouds over its cohesiveness and probity. The CJI should now show the light and redeem the institution’s glory by getting all his brother and sister judges along, to end this crisis and convert it into a chance to bring about all necessary institutional reforms,” writes Utkarsh Anand on News18.
Main arguments before the court
Livelaw reported that the petitioners argue that details for Aadhaar are collected by private contractors and NGOs hired by UIDAI without any safeguard. This makes them prone to misuse. They claimed that empirical research shows that the biometric identification denoted for UID, namely the the iris scan and fingerprint identification, is faulty and is could be abused.
Five-judge bench led by CJI Dipak Misra will start hearing the Aadhaar case at 11.30 am
A 5-judge bench,led by #CJI,will start hearing #Aadhaar case at 11.30 AM.
— News18 Courtroom (@News18Courtroom) January 17, 2018
It will be interesting to see if the #AttorneyGeneral again argues there's no urgency to decide on validity of #Aadhaar now that data protection law is being mulled & a new facial technique is being brought
#AadharMythBuster being used on Twitter to promote Aadhaar
Union ministers including Ravi Shankar Prasad and Rajyavardhan Rathore are using #AadharMythBuster to extol the virtues of Aadhaar.
Some policy experts are not impressed with those efforts.
"Aadhaar is a voluntary ID scheme. No services are linked to Aadhaar per se."
— meghnad (Nerds ka Parivaar) (@Memeghnad) January 17, 2018
LMAO!#AadhaarMythBusterhttps://t.co/wTCsQDnOaB
Justice J Chelameswar is not in the Supreme Court today
At a time when who comes to court at what time, who sits late and when there are 'chai or charcha' in the morning: Justice J Chelameswar is not in SC today. And so aren't Court no.7 and 11.
— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) January 17, 2018
Why the Chief Justice’s power must be kept in check
The Chief Justice is largely sheltered from public view while exercising his administrative powers, according to Business Standard. The authors write, “This creates an administrative authority, free of many of the constraints imposed on other agencies. The administrative powers of the Chief Justice have grown with time. However, the Court has failed to devise a parallel mechanism to keep a check on these powers… A slew of corrective measures are now required.”
Court to take up 29 pleas against Aadhaar
The court will take up 29 pleas against Aadhaar. The final hearing on the pleas challenging Aadhaar comes five years since the first was filed.
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