Aadhar cannot be mandated for welfare schemes, says Supreme Court
Posted on: 27/Mar/2017 1:01:18 PM
The government cannot mandate Aadhar card for providing welfare schemes to the public, according to Supreme Court’s statement today.
The court further clarified that Aadhar card can be mandatory for other schemes such as new bank account opening, and so on.
The Chief Justice of India, JS Khehar said in his statement today that Aadhar cannot be compulsory for the people to avail social welfare schemes. However, for non-benefit schemes, Aadhar can be mandatory. The order earlier made is very clear. For non-benefit schemes such as income tax, Aadhar can be mandatory.
To hear petitions in this regard, a 7-judget bench has to be set up, however, for now, it is not possible, the top court clarified.
Recently, the 12-digit Aadhar number was mandated for the citizens to get access to a number of schemes from the centre including free mid-day meals for school children, scholarships and other subsidies and schemes available for the backward class people and physically challenged.
Further, the government announced that the biometric identity documents will be ready by 30th of June.
Aadhar cards are also mandatory for subsidies for cooking gas or LPG and for food grains as well.
Today, a reiteration was made on the earlier announcement where Aadhar card was mandated for people to get government welfare schemes.
