Another 9-judge Bench? Indira Jaising seeks reconsideration of Mirzapur Moti judgment

The hearing before the Supreme Court in the case relating to beef ban in Maharashtra took an interesting turn today as Senior Advocate Indira Jaising submitted that she is challenging the correctness of the 7-judge Bench decision in State Of Gujarat vs Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab..The case is being heard by a Bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan..When the hearing began, Jaising, appearing for an NGO, said that the state of Maharashtra has filed an appeal against the Bombay High Court judgment and that the same is pending before another Bench. She said that all the petitions should be tagged and heard together..Senior Advocate CU Singh submitted that since the Court has pronounced upon privacy yesterday, and that the judgment is likely to have implications on this case, time should be afforded to parties to study the judgment..“That way parties can assist the Court better”, he said..Jaising, however, stated that there are other larger issues which she is raising..“There are other larger issues than privacy which I am raising. I have sought reconsideration of Mirzapur’s judgment. So this has to be heard by a larger Bench”, she said..The Court proceeded to adjourn the matter. At the next hearing, the Court will consider Jaising’s plea for hearing by a larger Bench..Since Mirzapur’s judgment is by a 7-judge Bench, the matter will have to go before a 9-judge Bench if Jaising’s prayer for larger Bench is accepted.