New Delhi: The Supreme Court yesterday refused to pass an interim order against the Centre’s notification making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits under social welfare schemes, with the government assuring the court that no citizen would be deprived of such benefits for want of the unique identity number.
The earlier deadline of June 30 has been extended till September 30 for those who want to apply for Aadhaar. The apex court observed that no interim order could be passed merely on the “apprehension” raised by the petitioners that somebody might be deprived of benefits under the various social welfare schemes due to lack of Aadhaar card.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench that if anyone was deprived of any benefits, the matter should be brought before the authorities or the court. The government, he said, would follow the words of the notification in “letter and spirit”.
The court was hearing an application against the recent notification on Aadhaar, alleging that it had violated the earlier orders which confined the use of card only for socially beneficial schemes like distribution of food grain or cooking gas.
The judges, while adjourning the hearing till July 7, stated that no clarification was necessary in view of the government’s clarification and the recent detailed order on Aadhaar delivered on June 6. They observed that the situation would not change within one week and there was the question whether the vacation Bench can change the earlier orders when the issues were before other Benches, including the Constitution Bench.
This post was published on June 28, 2017 6:46 pm