English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Supreme Court rules 4-1 Aadhaar as constitutionally valid, but not required for everything

Published

on

Supreme Court rules 4-1 Aadhaar as constitutionally valid, but not required for everything

In a long awaited judgment, the Supreme Court in 4-1 verdict on Wednesday, September 26, declared the Centre’s Aadhaar scheme, that uses biometric data to generate 12-digit unique identification numbers for citizens, as constitutionally valid even as it struck down some the provisions that made it mandatory to link it with bank accounts and mobile phones.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra held that while Aadhaar would remain mandatory for filing of income tax returns (ITR) and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN), it would not be mandatory to link Aadhaar to bank accounts and telecom service providers cannot seek its linking of Aadhaar for mobile connections.

The top court also held that Aadhaar would not be mandatory for school admissions. It would also not be mandatory examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical entrance and the University Grants Commission (UGC), the court ruled.

The top court also struck down the national security exception under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. It said Aadhaar is meant to help the benefits reach the marginalised sections of society and takes into account the dignity of people not only from personal but also community point of view.

The top court said Aadhaar is serving a much bigger public interest. Aadhaar means unique and it is better to be unique than being best.

Three sets of judgments were pronounced in the matter. The first of the three verdicts was pronounced by Justice AK Sikri who wrote the judgment for himself, CJI and Justice AM Khanwilkar.

Justice Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan, who are part of the bench have written their own judgments. Justice DY Chandrachud dissented, and Justice Ashok Bhushan concurred with the majority judgment.

Delivering the majority opinion of the five-judge Constitution bench, Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice AM Khanwilkar said there was a “sufficient defence mechanism” for authentication in the scheme.

The judges said there was nothing in the Aadhaar Act that violates a person’s right to privacy. It also upheld the passing of the Aadhaar Bill as a Money Bill by the Lok Sabha.

Justice Sikri, reading out the majority verdict, struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act which permits private entities to avail Aadhaar data and ruled that Aadhaar authentication data cannot be stored for more than six months. It directed the government not to give Aadhaar to illegal immigrants.

He said the attack on Aadhaar by petitioners was based on violation of rights under the Constitution, which they felt will lead to a surveillance State.

Observing that there has been minimal demographic and biometric data collected by UIDAI for Aadhaar enrolment, Justice Sikri said unique identification proof also empowered and gave identity to marginalised sections of society.

There is no possibility of obtaining a duplicate Aadhaar card, he said, adding there is sufficient defence mechanism for authentication in Aadhaar scheme.

The concept of human dignity has been enlarged in the judgement, he said.

Aadhaar means unique, and it’s better to be unique than being the best, the court said. It struck down the national security exception in the Aadhaar Act, the scheme’s enabling law, as well as Section 57 of the Act, which permits private entities to avail Aadhaar data.

The court said it wasn’t mandatory to link Aadhaar to bank accounts or mobile numbers, but that that the identification was compulsory for the filing of I-T returns and for the allotment of Permanent Account Numbers (PAN).

It said no child can be denied benefits of any schemes if he or she can’t produce an Aadhaar number. The CBSE, the NEET, and the UGC can’t make Aadhaar mandatory, and the scheme isn’t compulsory for school admissions, the court said.

The court also directed the government not to give illegal immigrants Aadhaar.

The Constitution bench had reserved its verdict on May 10. It heard petitions challenging Aadhaar’s constitutional validity on grounds that it violated the fundamental right to privacy. Last year, a nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court held that privacy was a fundamental right.

Today’s verdict concludes a 38-day hearing held over four-and-half months, the second-longest oral hearing in history, and concerns a programme that already covers more than 122 crore Indians. A number of services, such as government welfare schemes, require Aadhaar authentification.

Key points in the dissenting judgment of Justice DY Chandrachud:

The passing of Aadhaar Bill as a money bill was a subterfuge. Superseding Rajya Sabha to pass the Aadhaar Bill is a fraud to the Constitution.

Justice Chandrachud said Article 110 has specific grounds for Money Bill and Aadhaar law went beyond these grounds. It may have been politically expedient for the ruling party in power to bring Aadhaar Act as Money Bill. But it amounted to debasement of constitutional authorities, he observes.

Justice Chandrachud said individuals cannot be asked to wait upon the vicissitudes of algorithms. He said authentication data can only be retained for six months.

He warned leakage from central database will pave way for surveillance. UIDAI has no accountability/responsibility for storage or leakage of data, he said.

Certain provisions lead to invasion of biological attributes. Differing with the majority judgment on Aadhaar giving dignity of marginalised, he said, “One right cannot take away another. Dignity to the marginalised cannot do away with right of a person to bodily autonomy.”

Constitutional guarantees cannot be left to risks posed by technological advancements

Absence of independent regulatory framework compromises data protection therefore Aadhaar does not pass the constitutionality test under Article 14

“Aadhaar negates pluralistic identities and reduces a person to just 12 digits,” he says.

Justice Chandrachud also raps Central government for insisting on Aadhaar for several schemes despite the Supreme Court repeatedly saying it is not mandatory in various rulings.

With this, Justice Chandrachud strikes down the validity of Aadhaar.

Justice Ashok Bhushan in his judgment he concurred with the majority judgment, except on three aspects.

In the name of Aadhaar, rightful beneficiaries should not be denied services, subsidies, or benefits, Justice Bhushan said.

He said the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision to pass a Bill as Money Bill is amenable to judicial review.

Justice Bhushan said no material was placed before the Supreme Court to indicate that there has been considerable denial of benefits of subsidies to deserving persons.

He also said that biometric data contains certain personal information of citizens and the breach, if any, has to be ascertained.

Highlights of the verdict:

  1. Aadhaar mandatory for filing of IT returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number, says SC
  2. SC says not mandatory to link Aadhaar to bank accounts
  3. Aadhaar not needed for mobile connections. Telecom service providers can’t seek linking of Aadhaar, says SC
  4. SC says nothing in Aadhaar Act that violates right to privacy of individual
  5. SC upholds passing of Aadhaar Bill as Money Bill by Lok Sabha
  6. SC says no child can be denied benefits of any schemes on not being able to bring their Aadhaar number
  7. SC directs government not to give Aadhaar to illegal immigrants
  8. CBSE, NEET, UGC cannot make Aadhaar mandatory, also not compulsory for school admissions: SC
  9. Aadhaar authentication data cannot be stored for more than six months: SC
  10. SC Constitution Bench strikes down the National security exception under the Aadhaar Act
  11. Section 57 of Aadhaar Act permitting private entities to avail Aadhaar data struck down
  12. Robust data protection regime has to be brought in place as early as possible, says Justice Sikri in majority verdict
  13. There is sufficient defence mechanism for authentication in Aadhaar scheme: Justice Sikri
  14. The concept of human dignity has been enlarged in the judgement, says Justice Sikri
  15. SC declares Aadhaar scheme as Constitutionally valid
  16. There is no possibility of obtaining a duplicate Aadhaar card: Justice Sikri
  17. It is better to be unique than being best; Aadhaar means Unique: SC
  18. SC says there has been minimal demographic and biometric data collected by UIDAI for Aadhaar enrolment
  19. Unique identification proof also empowers and gives identity to marginalised sections of society, says SC

Read the Full Judgment here

India News

Lok Sabha elections: INDIA bloc in Bihar seals seat-sharing deal, Congress get 9 seats, RJD 26

Purnea and Katihar, currently held by the Janata Dal (United), had emerged as the sticking point in seat-sharing talks between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.

Published

on

The Opposition INDIA bloc sealed the seat-sharing deal in Bihar for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Mahagathbandhan’s largest constituent, RJD will field its candidates from 26 seats, including Purnea and Hajipur, while the Congress will contest on nine seats, including Kishanganj and Patna Sahib. Meanwhile, the Left will fight on five seats.

Purnea and Katihar, currently held by the Janata Dal (United), had emerged as the sticking point in seat-sharing talks between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.

Reportedly, the Congress has been made to give up the Purnea Lok Sabha seat, which recent entrant Pappu Yadav, husband of Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan, was hoping to contest, mentioning that he had received assurance of Congress ticket from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

The seat will be contested by RJD, which recently gave the party ticket to JD(U) turncoat Bima Bharti, but stopped short of announcing it formally. The INDIA bloc seat-sharing announcement comes a day after the filing of nomination papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls was over. The RJD has fielded its candidates in all four seats going to elections in the first phase.

Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav attended an INDIA bloc meeting regarding Bihar’s seat-sharing formula at Congress leader Mukul Wasnik’s residence and said that the RJD, the Congress and the Left will fight the Lok Sabha elections together in Bihar. He added that the INDIA bloc partners have agreed verbally on the seat-sharing arrangement and all the constituents are getting a respectable deal. Tejashwi Yadav’s remarks came amid reports of disquiet in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance in Bihar over seat sharing.

In the previous Lok Sabha elections, the National Democratic Alliance, including the BJP, JD(U) and LJP won 39 seats. The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for April 19.

Continue Reading

India News

Tax terrorism has to stop, says Congress after Income Tax Department issues fresh Rs 1,700 crore notice

The Congress has accused the BJP of squeezing it financially and of using tax authorities against it ahead of Lok Sabha elections beginning April 19.

Published

on

Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, the Congress’ financial woes worsened once again with the Income Tax Department issuing a fresh Rs 1,700 crore notice. The tax department issued the notice due to discrepancies in tax returns. 

The fresh notice is for assessment years 2017-18 to 2020-21 and includes penalty and interest. This comes a day after the Delhi High Court dismissed the party’s petition challenging the tax notices. 

The opposition party is already facing a funds crunch after Income Tax authorities imposed a penalty of Rs 200 crore and froze its funds. Furthermore, the party has not received any relief from the High Court in the case and is likely to approach the Supreme Court. The Congress has accused the BJP of squeezing it financially and of using tax authorities against it ahead of Lok Sabha elections beginning April 19.

Addressing a press conference, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that the notices are being sent to cripple the party financially. Calling the action as tax terrorism, Jairam Ramesh said that this attack on Congress has to stop.

Earlier in February, the Income Tax department had found fault in the party’s tax returns and demanded Rs 200 crore. Subsequently, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) had asked the party to pay the dues and froze their accounts. The Congress stated the tax tribunal’s order freezing its funds was an attack on democracy as the order came just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal stated that this is a deliberate attempt by the Narendra Modi-led to bankrupt the Congress ahead of elections. He mentioned that the timing of the penalty notice, following the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of Congress petitions challenging tax reassessment proceedings, reeks of political vendetta.

He underlined that while political parties are typically exempt from taxes, this penalty is allegedly due to delayed filing of returns. He asserted that it is a blatant move by the Modi government to cripple the Congress financially, especially during the elections. He further asserted that in response to the notice, the Congress plans to stage a nationwide protest, condemning BJP’s exploitation of central agencies to target opposition parties. 

Continue Reading

India News

Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Tejashwi Yadav mourns demise of Mukhtar Ansari, demand probe

Akhilesh Yadav mentioned that such doubtful cases should be investigated under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge.

Published

on

Mukhtar Ansari, gangster turned politician, who has been in jail since 2005, died due to cardiac arrest on Thursday. After Ansari’s death, his family alleged that the politician had been poisoned in the jail.  

Expressing sorrow, several opposition leaders demanded a probe into the death of Mukhtar Ansari. Notably, the gangster turned politician submitted an application in Barabanki court, alleging he was given some poisonous substance along with his food. He claimed that on March 19, his nerves and limbs started paining after he consumed the food.

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav wrote on X that a few days ago Mukhtar Ansari complained that he had been poisoned in jail, yet it was not taken seriously. He added that prima facie the move does not seem justifiable and humane. He stated that constitutional institutions should take suo motu cognizance of such strange cases and incidents.

Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party Chief, Akhilesh Yadav said that the state is going through the worst phase of government anarchy. He added that it is the responsibility and duty of the government to protect someone’s life in every situation and at every place. 

The former Chief Minister added that the death of a hostage or prisoner while being confined in the police station, in a fight inside the jail, on falling ill inside the prison, while being taken to court, while being taken to hospital or during treatment in hospital will erode public confidence in the judicial process. He mentioned that such doubtful cases should be investigated under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge. He claimed that the way the government bypasses the judicial process and adopts other methods is completely illegal. 

Taking to social media platform X, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said that the persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari’s family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the facts in his death can be revealed. 

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that the people of Ghazipur lost their favourite son and brother. He added that Mukhtar Ansari had made serious allegations against the administration that he was poisoned, but the government did not pay any attention to his treatment.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput stated that custodial deaths and firing in jail has become very common in Uttar Pradesh. He added that high level investigation should be conducted.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com