Ruling that Aadhaar card is not mandatory, the Supreme Court on Tuesday gave a verdict that it should be used only to disburse LPG, food grains and other subsidies. The apex court directed the concerned government authorities that no personal information of Aadhaar card holders shall be shared by them.
The apex court, which had earlier referred the matter to a bench of 5 judges after the government said that Right to Privacy is not a fundamental right under the Constitution, also gave 4 directions to the government regarding the same. The Centre has so far maintained that there is no maintainability to the plea that demands the scrapping of the Aadhaar scheme on the ground there is violation of the right to privacy.
“The Centre shall ensure wide publicity through print and electronic media that Aadhar card is not mandatory,” the bench said.
The Constitution Bench was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Centre’s ambitious scheme to provide Aadhar card to all citizens and decide whether right to privacy is a fundamental right.
Earlier in the day, an apex court bench had referred the matter to a constitution bench as it wanted an authoritative pronouncement on whether right to privacy is a fundamental right.
The Constitution Bench ruled that Aadhar card will remain optional for availing various
welfare schemes of the government except for PDS and LPG distribution system.
The court directed that “no personal information of Aadhar card holders shall be shared by the authorities concerned”.
The bench, also comprising Justices SA Bobde and C Nagappan, said, “UIDAI/Aadhaar will not be used for any other purposes except PDS, kerosene and LPG distribution system.” However, the court made it clear that even for PDS, kerosene and LPG distribution system, the card will not be mandatory.
The court, however, allowed the use of details of Aadhar card holders for any criminal investigation.
