In India, the concept of an "Unique Identity Card" to all the residents of India was first discussed and planned in the year 2006, as proposed by the "Planning Commission of India", headed by the Prime Minister of India.
And in February 2009, Unique Identification Authority of India / UIDAI was founded under the Chairmanship of Mr. Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder and the co-chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited from 1981 to 2009.
The unique id card having unique number for each Indian resident would be called ‘Aadhaar Number’ and the unique id card would be called “Aadhaar Card”.
According to the Union Government of India in announcements, ‘Aadhaar Card’ is optional and NOT mandatory/compulsory.
However, some State Governments in India have started insisting on the people to get the ‘Aadhaar Card’/’Aadhaar Number’ to avail some of the concessions/subsidies and various benefits from the schemes of the State Governments Thus it has become compulsory in some states of India, for a range of activities including:
In almost all the states in India, including Tamilnadu, the ‘LPG’ cooking gas agencies started insisting on ‘Aadhaar’ Card/Number related Savings Bank Accounts to get cooking gas refills at the subsidized price.
And even the Union Government of India insisted on the people to have ‘Aadhaar’ Card/Number for some of the schemes of the Central Government such as "Public Provident Fund" etc., apart from availing the Government’s subsidy on the ‘LPG’- Cooking gas
However, the Central Government of India and the Union Ministers continued to say that the “Aadhaar Card” is only optional and NOT mandatory/compulsory.
A ‘Retired/Former Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice K.S.Puttaswamy filed a Public Litigation Petition/PIL with the Supreme Court of India seeking a ‘Stay’ on the implementation of the “Aadhaar” Scheme.
The PIL filed with the Supreme Court of India by the petitioner submitted as follows:
While the 'UIDAI' has aimed at issuing the unique id cards to all the Indian residents by the year 2014, it is notable that as of September 2013, only 35% of the Indian residents have been issued with the "Aadhaar" card.
The following are the 9 States out of the total 35 states, with more than 80% of the population issued with "Aadhar":
To know the cost / benefit details of the "Aadhar" Scheme you may refer to the official website of UIDAI or the detailed reports of the "Planning Commission of India", the mother of the scheme.
As the Union Government of India has been repeatedly announcing that "Aadhar" is not Compulsory and it has so far been only optional, let us hope that the Government will not seek to review the order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter.
You may recollect that the Central Government of India, after consultations with all the major political parties, had sought a revision of the Supreme Court of India's ruling in the matter of convicted "Law Makers", in view of the fact that the SC's decision will lead to complications in the State Governments and the Central Government.
However, the Supreme Court of India's ruling on "Aadhar" Scheme may be viewed as a set-back to the Central -UPA 2- Government and some State Governments which started making obtaining the "Aadhar"-Card/Number, mandatory, directly or indirectly.
Related Readings:
"Aadhaar" NOT MANDATORY/COMPULSARY IN INDIA- Supreme Court of India
Is Aadhaar Card Needed in India?
And in February 2009, Unique Identification Authority of India / UIDAI was founded under the Chairmanship of Mr. Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder and the co-chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited from 1981 to 2009.
The unique id card having unique number for each Indian resident would be called ‘Aadhaar Number’ and the unique id card would be called “Aadhaar Card”.
However, some State Governments in India have started insisting on the people to get the ‘Aadhaar Card’/’Aadhaar Number’ to avail some of the concessions/subsidies and various benefits from the schemes of the State Governments Thus it has become compulsory in some states of India, for a range of activities including:
- Salary (including the salary of Judges in the State of Maharashtra)
- PF Disbursals and
- Marriage & Property Registrations.
Recently, the State Government of Maharashtra started insisting on “Aadhaar”-Card/Number for registration of marriages in the state.
In almost all the states in India, including Tamilnadu, the ‘LPG’ cooking gas agencies started insisting on ‘Aadhaar’ Card/Number related Savings Bank Accounts to get cooking gas refills at the subsidized price.
And even the Union Government of India insisted on the people to have ‘Aadhaar’ Card/Number for some of the schemes of the Central Government such as "Public Provident Fund" etc., apart from availing the Government’s subsidy on the ‘LPG’- Cooking gas
However, the Central Government of India and the Union Ministers continued to say that the “Aadhaar Card” is only optional and NOT mandatory/compulsory.
A ‘Retired/Former Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice K.S.Puttaswamy filed a Public Litigation Petition/PIL with the Supreme Court of India seeking a ‘Stay’ on the implementation of the “Aadhaar” Scheme.
The PIL filed with the Supreme Court of India by the petitioner submitted as follows:
- The collection of personal data of the people of India had raised doubts and
- It was in violation of the “Fundamental Rights” of the citizens to ‘Privacy’ and the Fundamental Rights under Articles 14/Right to Equality and Article 21/Right to Life and Liberty, It was also an executive act in overreach of Parliament, which is yet to grant statutory powers to “Aadhar” and
- “Aadhar” scheme has proposed to give UID numbers not only to citizens, but also illegal migrants pursuant to a scheme framed by the government through an executive order of January 28, 2009
- NOT TO-Make “Aadhar”-Card/Number mandatory / compulsory to get the benefit of government schemes and to avail various services of the State Governments and the Central Government.and
- NOT TO issue "Aadhar" Card/Number to the "Illegal Immigrants" residing in India.
While the 'UIDAI' has aimed at issuing the unique id cards to all the Indian residents by the year 2014, it is notable that as of September 2013, only 35% of the Indian residents have been issued with the "Aadhaar" card.
The following are the 9 States out of the total 35 states, with more than 80% of the population issued with "Aadhar":
- Andhra Pradesh/AP,
- Kerala,
- Delhi,
- Himachal Pradesh,
- Tripura,
- Goa,
- Puducherry,
- Chandigarh and
- Sikkim.
To know the cost / benefit details of the "Aadhar" Scheme you may refer to the official website of UIDAI or the detailed reports of the "Planning Commission of India", the mother of the scheme.
As the Union Government of India has been repeatedly announcing that "Aadhar" is not Compulsory and it has so far been only optional, let us hope that the Government will not seek to review the order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter.
You may recollect that the Central Government of India, after consultations with all the major political parties, had sought a revision of the Supreme Court of India's ruling in the matter of convicted "Law Makers", in view of the fact that the SC's decision will lead to complications in the State Governments and the Central Government.
However, the Supreme Court of India's ruling on "Aadhar" Scheme may be viewed as a set-back to the Central -UPA 2- Government and some State Governments which started making obtaining the "Aadhar"-Card/Number, mandatory, directly or indirectly.
Related Readings:
"Aadhaar" NOT MANDATORY/COMPULSARY IN INDIA- Supreme Court of India
Is Aadhaar Card Needed in India?
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