Supreme Court Hears Plea Against Making Aadhaar Mandatory

The Supreme Court had rapped the government earlier for making Aadhaar compulsory for filing income tax returns.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard a plea challenging the government’s move to make Aadhaar card mandatory. Senior counsel Arvind Datar petitioned against Justice Sikri as part of the hearing. However, the arguments on the issue remained inconclusive. The case will be next heard on Thursday.

Earlier, the court had rapped the government for making Aadhaar compulsory for filing income tax returns. It referred to its order in 2015 when the apex court had made the Aadhaar optional.

Referring to this, the court said:

How can you make Aadhaar card mandatory when we have passed an order to make it optional?

Also Read: When Banks Come Calling, Do You Have To Give Your Aadhar Number?

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi argued that mandatory Aadhaar was the only way to check black money. The court had, on 27 March, specified that Aadhaar card should not be made mandatory for availing governmental schemes. In a violation of the SC order, the Centre introduced last-minute amendments to the Finance Bill 2017, making Aadhaar mandatory for filing taxes.

(With inputs from media agencies.)

Also Read: How Safe Is Your Biometric Data? The Potential Pitfalls of Aadhaar