Don't insist on Aadhar, warns SC Monday March 16,2015

 

Clearing all doubts about the validity of Aadhaar Card to avail of government subsidies, the Supreme Court on Monday March 16,2015 confirmed that the Aadhar card is not compulsory, and further, officials who insist on them will be taken to task.

A fuming Supreme Court issued a stern warning to the government on learning that many government authorities still insist on Aadhaar for providing government subsidies and basic services to ordinary citizens.

A Bench of Justices J. Chelameswar, S.A. Bobde and C. Nagappan clarified that demands made by officials for Aadhaar card is in clear violation of the Supreme Court's Interim Order of Sep 23,2013

In the 2013 order, the apex court had directed that “no person should suffer for not getting the Aadhaar card, inspite of the fact that some authority had issued a circular making it mandatory”.

The court's summary dismissal of Aadhaar card's validity comes at a time when over 750 million Aadhar numbers have already been generated.

“Aadhaar is being insisted upon by various authorities. We do not want to go into specific instances. We expect the Union of India and all the States to adhere to the order dated September 23, 2013. We will take the officers concerned to task if any order comes on record making it (Aadhaar) mandatory,” Justice Chelameswar observed.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhaar scheme as an encroachment into the public's right to privacy.

“It is a matter of great public importance. The issue has serious implication in terms of Constitution. Notwithstanding the court's order, there is insistence for Aadhaar. There is complete apathy on the part of officials,” senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, representing one of the petitioners and Bangalore-resident, Mathew Thomas, submitted.