Centre opposes Jairam’s plea on Aadhaar Bill in SC

The Centre on Tuesday opposed the petition filed by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioning the decision to treat Aadhaar Bill as a money bill saying that the constitutional provision bars him from challenging it.

“Under the Constitution, it is a settled position that money bill certified by the Speaker is beyond challenge,” Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted before a Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur which had sought his assistance. However, senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for Ramesh, submitted that when there was a violation of rule of law, “locus is not the ground on which the petition can be thrown out.” 

When the Bench, also comprising Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit, wanted to know “if it (treating Aadhaar Bill as Money Bill) is open to judicial review”, the Attorney General said there was no violation of fundamental right of Ramesh so the petition filed by him under Article 32 of the Constitution cannot be entertained.