Oct 4, The Hindu

The Centre on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order, which said Aadhaar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want it.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said that the plea of the Centre would be taken up for hearing on October 8.

“We seek modification of the order, which said that Aadhaar card is not mandatory,” Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran, appearing for the Centre, said, adding that the order may come in the way of various welfare schemes.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had said that the Aadhaar card, being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not mandatory for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilities for the want of the card.

The Centre had also told the court that the Aadhaar card was optional and that it has not made it mandatory for the citizens.

The apex court had passed the earlier order while hearing a batch of pleas against decisions of some States to make Aadhaar cards compulsory for a range of activities including salary, PF disbursals and marriage and property registrations.