House panel seeks legal status for Aadhaar

The government has been asked by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance to provide a statutory backing to Aadhaar at the earliest and take immediate steps to address issues pertaining to the project.

“The committee, therefore, once again reiterates that the government should immediately address the key issues relating to UIDAI and initiate measures for early legislation on the subject,” said the panel headed by senior Congress leader and former union minister M Veerappa Moily.

It noted that the reply of the Planning Ministry on the pending legislation on UIDAI has been repetitive.

The Planning Ministry said, “In view of the recent steps taken by the government to universalise Aadhaar enrolments and to utilise it for several service delivery initiatives, the government recognises that there is an urgent requirement to pass the bill. Further steps, that are required to be taken to take the proposed legislation further, are being taken.”

The panel said, “The Committee had time and again urged the government to address the key issues related to the UIDAI Bill, particularly in the light of recent SC Judgement.”

In October, lifting its earlier restriction, the Supreme Court had allowed voluntary use of Aadhaar for welfare programmes including MGNREGA, all pension schemes, provident fund and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna.