UIDAI Terms SC’s Aadhaar Verdict a Victory, Lists its Benefits

UIDAI welcomed “the landmark majority judgment of SC” that upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar scheme.

The UIDAI on Wednesday, 26 September, termed the Supreme Court judgment upholding Aadhaar as a constitutionally valid scheme as a victory.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI that the 4:1 apex court judgment announced on Wednesday is in favour of Aadhaar.

It is a 4:1 judgment in favour of Aadhaar. The court has declared Aadhaar constitutionally valid. It is a money bill. It can be used for PAN card. It empowers the poor and marginalised sections. Aadhaar can be used for subsidies and government schemes so that there is no leakage of government funds. It can be used for income tax so that tax evasion and black money can be curbed.

UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey to PTI

#AadhaarAct has withstood the judicial scrutiny and “the purpose of the Act is legitimate”. Aadhaar as an idea is fully upheld that it does not create a surveillance state and does not violate privacy. 2/n

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) September 26, 2018

...The #AadhaarVerdict is a victory for UIDAI and the Government of India and has also set the pace of India’s digital destiny.” - @ceo_uidai

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) September 26, 2018

However, some reasonable conditions and restrictions on private usages  have been imposed as safeguards that would further strengthen #Aadhaar as the unique identity in the service of the people especially the poor, he (@ceo_uidai ) added. 7/n

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) September 26, 2018

It has been established by the judgement that #Aadhaar is not for the state surveillance as profiling is not possible using the minimal data that Aadhaar has. There are sufficient safeguards to disallow any abuse. 10/10#Aadhaar4Development

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) September 26, 2018

Reading out the majority judgment on Aadhaar, Justice AK Sikri upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar, but with conditions. Justice DY Chandrachud, meanwhile, made a dissenting judgment declaring the Aadhaar scheme unconstitutional.

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.

Reacting to the court order of annulling section 57, Pandey said:

The court has restricted private usage (of Aadhaar) without any backing of Law. Same has been suggested by Justice Shrikrishna Committee.

UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey to PTI

'This is a Landmark Judgment in Favour of Aadhaar': Nandan Nilekani

Meanwhile, former UIDAI chairperson Nandan Nilekani called the SC’s verdict a “landmark judgment in favour of Aadhaar”.

More than just opining on the constitutionality of the act, the Supreme Court has unequivocally validated the founding principles for Aadhaar... The resident was once again recognised as being at the heart of the project, and they have gained new rights that help them assert their ownership over their data. Aadhaar has undergone the ultimate scrutiny in the highest court, and a lot of recommendations have been incorporated. Through the democratic process of discussion and debate, we have created a better and stronger Aadhaar together.

Former UIDAI chairperson Nandan Nilekani

(With inputs from PTI.)