Five constitution benches of the Supreme Court would start hearing from October 10 five key issues, including the power tussle between the Centre and Delhi government over administrative jurisdiction and a matter relating to passive euthanasia.

Besides these, the constitution benches, each consisting of five judges, would also deal with issues like whether a parliamentary committee report can be referred to or relied upon during judicial proceedings, how to add income for future prospects of victims in motor accident claims and whether the top court can entertain a plea for making an arbitration award a rule of the court.

The top court, through a notice published on its website, said that its constitution benches would start hearing these matters from next Tuesday.

The court had in February 2014 referred to a constitution bench a plea favouring voluntary passive euthanasia in cases where a person is suffering from terminal illness and has no chance of revival and recovery as per the medical opinion.

The court would consider the prayer of an NGO, Common Cause, to declare ‘right to die with dignity’ as a Fundamental Right within the fold of Right to Live with dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

A constitution bench would also hear the matter relating to the tug-of-war between the Centre and the Delhi government over the administration of the National Capital Territory.

The Delhi High Court had on August 4 last year declared the Lieutenant Governor as the administrative head of the national capital against which the city government has moved the apex court.

Another constitution bench would hear the issue whether a parliamentary committee report could be referred to or relied upon during judicial proceedings before the top court.

The matter had cropped up when a two-judge bench on April 5 this year was hearing a PIL seeking to quash licencing of two vaccines for cervical cancer treatment as the approval for their use was done without adequate research on safety. It had referred to certain reports of parliamentary panels.

In a matter related to the grant of compensation by Motor Accident Claims Tribunals, a two-judge bench had in 2014 said that while calculating compensation to victims, the issue of adding income for future prospects needed an authoritative pronouncement and had referred the matter to a higher bench.

One constitution bench will hear whether the top court can entertain an application for making an arbitration award a rule of the court.

( Source – PTI )