The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on the potential reconsideration of its 2022 judgment, which validated the powers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), to August 28. This decision came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, requested additional time to prepare due to the sudden scheduling of the review.
During the session, Mehta informed the three-judge bench, led by Justice Surya Kant and including Justices C T Ravikumar and Ujjal Bhuyan, of the need for a postponement. He stated that the matter was listed for hearing unexpectedly late the previous night, leading to a lack of adequate preparation time.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, arguing on behalf of the petitioners, contended that the 2022 judgment was incorrect and warranted a thorough reconsideration. The bench agreed to the adjournment, setting the new hearing date for late August.
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The pleas under review challenge specific aspects of a July 27, 2022, verdict by a different three-judge bench, which upheld the ED’s authority to arrest individuals, attach properties, and conduct searches and seizures under the PMLA. These powers have been contentious, sparking debates about their impact on civil liberties and the enforcement of anti-money laundering measures.
