There are three sets of judgments being pronounced on the issue today.
Aadhaar
Verdict : The Supreme Court Wednesday declared the Centre's
flagship Aadhaar scheme as constitutionally valid but struck down
some of its provisions including its linking with bank accounts,
mobile phones and school admissions.
A
five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra
held that while Aadhaar would remain mandatory for filing of IT
returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN), it would not
be mandatory to link Aadhaar to bank accounts and telecom service
providers cannot seek its linking of Aadhaar for mobile connections.
It
would also not be mandatory for school admissions, as also for the
examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination,
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical entrance and the
University Grants Commission.
The
bench also struck down the national security exception under the
Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits
and Services) Act.
It
said Aadhaar is meant to help the benefits reach the marginalised
sections of society and takes into account the dignity of people not
only from personal but also community point of view.
The
top court said Aadhaar is serving much bigger public interest.
Aadhaar means unique and it is better to be unique than being best.
There
are three sets of judgements being pronounced. The first of the three
verdicts was pronounced by Justice A K Sikri who wrote the judgement
for himself, CJI and Justice A M Khanwilkar.
Justice
Chandrachud and Justice A Bhushan, who are part of the bench, have
written their individual opinions.
Justice
Sikri struck down Section 57 of Aadhaar
Act permitting private entities to avail Aadhaar data and ruled
that Aadhaar authentication data cannot be stored for more than six
months.
It
directed the government not to give Aadhaar to illegal immigrants.
The
apex court upheld passing of Aadhaar Bill as Money Bill by the Lok
Sabha. The Congress party and its leader Jairam Ramesh had challenged
the passage of the bill in the House.
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