SC to have a detailed hearing on Aadhar Bill on 6 May

Hearing the petition filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh challenging the decision to pass the Aadhar Bill as a Money Bill, the Supreme Court on 25 April directed Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to present his views before the court. 

The Bill was introduced and passed as a Money Bill during the Budget Session in March.

Justice TS Thakur told P Chidambaram, who was representing Ramesh, that a detailed hearing would be held on 6 May and the matter could even be referred to the Constitutional Bench hearing the validity of Aadhar cards.

After the passage of the Aadhar Bill in Lok Sabha, Congress questioned its legality and hinted that it would approach the apex court. Claiming that the bill was by no stretch of imagination a Money Bill, the Congress had said that if not dragged into the court, the ruling party might try and bypass Rajya Sabha on other crucial bills.

During the Budget Session of the Parliament, the speaker certified the Aadhar Bill as the Money Bill which left little room for the opposition. The government sent the Bill to the upper house which suggested five recommendations for amendments in the Money Bill which were ignored and on 16 March 2016 the government adopted the Aadhar Bill by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha. The government was forced to take the step since it did not have a majority in the upper house.

Once certified as Money Bill. it is the prerogative of the Lok Sabha whether it incorporates the amendments suggested by the upper house of the Parliament. Once the Lok Sabha passes a money bill, it is deemed to have been passed by both houses of the Parliament.