The story so far: A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud will hear six pending seven-judge Constitution Bench matters on October 12, for completion of procedural formalities before the onset of final hearings. These cases are of immense constitutional significance and also have political ramifications — for instance, the Bench will reconsider its 2016 decision in Nabam Rebia v. Deputy Speaker, which will have a significant bearing on the Maharashtra political crisis that led to the ouster of former Chief Minister Uddhav B. Thackeray.
Other cases pertain to the contentious issue of the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University, the passage of crucial laws such as the Aadhaar Act as a ‘Money Bill’, re-distribution of quota within the Scheduled Caste reservation on the basis of backwardness of communities, freedom of press vis-a-vis legislative privileges and the competence of State legislatures to levy additional taxes.
