SC notice to Centre on PIL challenging Aadhaar implementation

Notice issued to the Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

PTI | November 30, 2012



The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centre's response to a plea challenging the implementation of the 'AADHAAR' scheme, aimed at providing a unique identity number to all Indians, without any legislative nod.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice J Chelameswar issued notice to the Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), set up to implement the scheme, seeking their replies on the contention that the Parliament was "circumvented" in implementation of the scheme.

The public interest litigation petition, filed by retired Karnataka High Court judge, Justice K S Puttaswamy and advocate Parvesh Khanna questioned the government's decision of issuing AADHAAR numbers to citizens while the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 is pending before the Rajya Sabha where it was introduced on December 3, 2010.

The Bill, for the purpose of giving legal backing to the scheme, was referred by the Rajya Sabha to the Standing Committee (Finance) which had rejected it by overwhelming majority on December 11, 2011, the petitioners have said.

"Whether the executive power vested in the Union under Article 73 of the Constitution can be exercised by avoiding the consideration of a Bill on the same subject pending before the Parliament and after its rejection by the Standing Committee.. and circumventing the Parliament?", the plea asked.

The petitioners in their plea have sought directions to the government to prevent it from acting upon its notification of January 28, 2009 and from by-passing or circumventing the passage of the Bill by Parliament after discussion, debate and voting.

The government through its notification of January 28, 2009 had set up the UIDAI for issuance of AADHAAR numbers and cards to all Indian citizens.

The UIDAI would maintain a database of Indian residents, containing their biometric and other details.

Comments

 

Other News

India faces critical shortage of skin donors amid rising burn cases

India reports nearly 70 lakh burn injury cases every year, resulting in approximately 1.4 lakh deaths annually. Experts estimate that up to 50% of these lives could be saved with adequate access to skin donations.   A significant concern is that around 70% of burn victims fall wi

Not just politics, let`s discuss policies too

Why public policy matters Most days, India`s loudest debates stop at the ballot box. We can name every major leader and recall every campaign slogan. Still, far fewer of us can explain why a widow`s pension is delayed or how a government school`s budget is actually approved. That

When algorithms decide and children die

The images have not left me, of dead and wounded children being carried in the arms of the medics and relatives to the ambulances and hospitals. On February 28, at the start of Operation Epic Fury, cruise missiles struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh school – officially named a girls’ school, in Minab,

The economics of representation: Why women in power matter

India’s democracy has grown in scale, but not quite in balance. Women today are active participants in elections, influencing outcomes in ways that were not as visible earlier. Yet their presence in legislative institutions continues to lag behind. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was meant to addres

India will be powerful, not aggressive: Bhaiyyaji

India is poised to emerge as a global power but will remain rooted in its civilisational ethos of non-aggression and harmony, former RSS General Secretary Suresh `Bhaiyyaji` Joshi has said.   He was speaking at the launch of “Rashtrabhav,” a book by Ravindra Sathe

AI: Code, Control, Conquer

India today stands at a critical juncture in the area of artificial intelligence. While the country is among the fastest adopters of AI in the world, it remains heavily reliant on technologies developed elsewhere. This paradox, experts warn, cannot persist if India seeks technological sovereignty.


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter