New Delhi: Government agency UIDAI Wednesday asked schools not to refuse admission to students for lack of Aadhaar and said such denials are "invalid" and "not permitted under the law".
Taking a stern view of cases where few schools had denied admission to children in the absence of Aadhaar, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said: "it must be ensured that no children are deprived/denied of their due benefits or rights for want of Aadhaar".
The move by the UIDAI is expected to offer relief to parents and students who are left in the lurch when schools insist on Aadhaar number at the time of admission.
For children who are not yet assigned an Aadhaar number or those whose biometrics are not updated in the database, the UIDAI has asserted that under Aadhaar rules it will be the "responsibility" of schools to arrange for enrolments and biometric update facility for such students.
The nodal body for Aadhaar has also urged schools to coordinate with local banks, post offices, state education department and district administration, to facilitate special camps for such enrolment and updation to take place.
The Aadhaar-issuing body has said that it is "obligatory" on the states to arrange - through its education department and district administration - the Aadhaar enrolment camp in all schools at least twice a year. A roster should be drawn up for this, it added.
In a statement, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said that it is the responsibility of the schools to hold special camps in coordination with local banks, post offices, state education department and district administration to facilitate the entire process.
A UIDAI circular addressed to Chief Secretaries of States/Lt Governor of UTs said: "Some instances have come to our notice that few schools are denying admission to children for want of Aadhaar. Such denials are invalid and not permitted under the law."
It instructed schools to ensure that no child is denied admission and other facilities for lack of Aadhaar.
The UIDAI said since the 12-digit identifier is being sought from school children for admission, obtaining scholarships and attending boards, competitive and others examinations, it is essential that schools provide Aadhaar enrolment and biometric update facility to students, so they do not face any difficulty.
Also, the mandatory update of biometrics in Aadhaar is required for children on attaining the age of 5-15 years to ascertain the validity of their Aadhaar number assigned earlier, said the circular.