Nobody should be at disadvantageous position for want of Aadhaar: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took note of the Centre’s plea that Aadhaar cards be allowed to be used “voluntarily” for welfare programmes other than PDS and LPG schemes and asked whether it can assure that nobody would be at a “disadvantageous” position for want of Aadhaar.

“Do you (Centre) make it a precedent for giving benefits of schemes? Do you say that a person will not be put to a disadvantageous position because of lack of Aadhaar?” a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi when he pitched strongly for voluntary use of Aadhaar to provide benefits of various welfare schemes to “the poorest of poor”.

“The answer to the question (whether Aadhaar would be voluntary) <g data-gr-id="23">is :</g> Yes. If the court wants, the affidavit of the highest functionary will be available by 10.30 am tomorrow," the Attorney General said and reiterated time and again during the two-hour-long hearing that nobody will be deprived of any benefits for either want of Aadhaar or for not using it. The Bench may continue hearing the matter on Thursday also as the advancing of arguments on pleas of the Centre, RBI, SEBI, IRDA, TRAI, the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority and states like Gujarat and Jharkhand for modification of the August 11 order remained inconclusive.

The court observed that though it is often said that Aadhaar is not mandatory, but at times, some authorities do "insist" on it.