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Letters: Akin to forensic report

The top court said the government could not be barred from seeking Aadhaar

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Business Standard
Last Updated : Mar 28 2017 | 11:35 PM IST
Apropos the M J Antony and PTI report, “Aadhaar can’t be made mandatory for social welfare schemes, says SC” (March 28), the Supreme Court’s directive is welcome.
 
However, the top court said the government could not be barred from seeking Aadhaar, which is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India for non-benefit purposes such as filing of income tax returns and opening of accounts. How long will these petitions challenge the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and biometics on the ground of infringement of the right to privacy of citizens?
 
Another problem is that a large number of people still do not possess Aadhaar cards, partly due to the government’s negligence and incapacity.
 
Add to this, the postal service for the delivery of Aadhaar cards to homes is not satisfactory. Several Aadhaar cards are marked undelivered and left in post offices. In many cases discrepancy in inserting information of an Aadhaar card holder is discernible. Also, the card is found to be ineffective when a married woman applies for a PAN card with a downloaded copy in which her father’s name is mentioned.
 
Aadhaar cards containing information of a person’s fingerprints or eyes is tantamount to the forensic report of a criminal.
 
Last, Aadhaar is a government’s distrust of its people. Therefore, it should not be made compulsory irrespective of social welfare schemes and other plans. Buddhadev Nandi  Bishnupur
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