On September 05, 2023, the Supreme Court of India constituted a new Constitution bench for hearing three important cases starting September 20, 2023. The new Constitution bench includes Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justice AS Bopanna, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra. The notice issued reads “Constitution bench comprising of Hon’ble the Chief Justice, Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.S. Bopanna, Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.M. Sundresh, Hon’ble Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Misra will take up the following matters from 20.09.2023 (Wednesday) onwards.” The bench will take up cases, Assam Public Works vs. Union of India & Ors., Ashok Kumar Jain vs. Union of India, and Sita Soren vs. Union of India.
- Ashok Kumar Jain vs. Union of India: It deals with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reservations in the Lok Sabha. The question addressed in this case is, “Does the extension of the reservation period for SC/STs and Anglo-Indians from 50 years to 60 years under the 79th Constitutional Amendment violate the Right to Equality?”
- Assam Public Works vs. Union of India & Ors.: The case revolves around whether Section 6A of the 1955 Citizenship Act is constitutionally sound.
- Sita Soren vs. Union of India: The issue addressed, in this case, was “Whether Article 105/194 (2) of the Constitution of India confers any immunity on the Members of Parliament/Legislative Assembly from being prosecuted for an offence involving offer or acceptance of bribe to caste vote in a legislature?”