SC will decide today on pleas against Sethu

Owing to confusion about the date of hearing among lawyers appearing in the case, including Subramaniam Swamy who is personally arguing his case in one of the applications, a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said it will go by its earlier order. On Monday, the court had indicated that the matter will be taken up on May 1 which was wrongly construed by the parties as the “first” matter today.

While the confusion was sorted out, senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for one of the petitioners, made a fervent plea for referring the matter to a Constitution Bench. “The matter involves larger public interest. It is a question of faith of 80 million people,” he said, pleading that the petitions be examined by the Constitution Bench.

But the bench seemed unmoved and said it will examine the matter tomorrow.

To ensure that his application is heard along with the main matter, Swamy complained to the bench that the Registry was not numbering his application. The bench told him to mention the plea when the matter is taken up for final disposal tomorrow.