Aadhaar, the world's biggest biometric database scheme, was started seven years ago to streamline payment of benefits and cut down on massive wastage and fraud
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that there would be no freeze on the Centre's notification that made Aadhaar mandatory for social welfare scheme benefits, asking for proof that those without the 12-digit identification number were suffering.
The court said that no interim order could be passed on mere apprehensions that the Centre could prevent people without Aadhaar from getting the benefits of programmes like mid-day meals.
The Centre informed the court that it has extended its Aadhaar enrolment deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2017, and said that nobody would be allowed to suffer.
Aadhaar, the world's biggest biometric database scheme, was started seven years ago to streamline payment of benefits and cut down on massive wastage and fraud. The Centre has rejected criticism that Aadhaar violates privacy and is prone to data breaches.
When senior advocate Shyam Diwan said that the government's move would impact school students, besides children and women rescued from traffickers, the court asked for proof and said there was no urgency to pass an interim order. The court will hear the matter on July 7.
The Centre has already informed the court that about 95.10 per cent of India's population has voluntarily registered for Aadhaar and apprehensions of large-scale exclusion of citizens from government benefits were misplaced.
The court referred to its June 9 order that upheld the Centre's move to make Aadhaar mandatory to obtain PAN cards and file tax returns. The court had put a partial stay on its implementation till a Constitution bench addressed the issue of privacy violation. Aadhaar cards are issued to individuals after collecting their biometric data such as retina scan and fingerprints. Quoting Aadhaar details is also mandatory for opening of bank accounts and any financial transaction of Rs 50,000 and above. Also, all existing accounts will turn invalid if not linked to Aadhaar by December 31, 2017.
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