After extending the deadline to Aadhaar card with mobile numbers and bank accounts indefinitely, back in March, today Supreme Court has announced that it is not mandatory to link bank accounts and mobile numbers with Aadhaar or when opening a bank account or for obtaining a new SIM card. It also said at No mobile company can demand Aadhaar card.
It also said that Aadhaar-PAN linking is mandatory, however it is not mandatory for UGC, NEET & CBSE examinations as well as school admissions. It added that Biometric data shall not be shared with any agency without the permission of the court.
“Education has taken us from thumb impression to signature, now technology has taken us from signature to thumb impression,” said the SC.
Update: UIDAI has said that it welcomes SupremeCourt judgement on Aadhaar which has upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar. UIDAI said that the Aadhaar Verdict has recognised that Aadhaar respects human dignity and does not violate privacy.
In a statement, UIDAI said:
UIDAI welcomes the historical and landmark majority judgement of the Hon’ble SupremeCourt on Aadhaar which has upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and accepted that there is a legitimate state aim in Aadhaar. Adhaar Act has withstood the judicial scrutiny and “the purpose of the Act is legitimate”. Aadhaar as an idea is fully upheld that it does not create a surveillance state and does not violate privacy.
The Aadhaar Verdict is a tool of empowerment of the marginalised sections of the society. The apex Court also upheld that the Aadhaar Act passed as a Money Bill is valid. SupremeCourt has further gone on to say that the Aadhaar Act meets the concept of Limited Government, Good Governance, and Constitutional Trust.
CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India, Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, said:
Aadhaar has come out winning as the champion of the empowerment of people, especially the marginalised sections of the society and also as the key to the welfare schemes delivery of the Government that has eradicated the fakes, duplicates and middlemen.The Aadhaar Verdict is a victory for UIDAI and the Government of India and has also set the pace of India’s digital destiny.
However, some reasonable conditions and restrictions on private usages have been imposed as safeguards that would further strengthen Aadhaar as the unique identity in the service of the people especially the poor.