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Why in news?
The Supreme Court recently delivered its decision on the constitutionality of the Aadhaar unique identification system.
What is the Court's rationale?
- The failure to establish the identity of an individual is a major hindrance to the successful implementation of welfare programmes.
- Absence of a credible system to authenticate identity made it difficult for subsidies/benefits/services to reach the intended beneficiaries.
- The Aadhaar project thus ensures dignity for marginalised sections along with services, benefits and subsidies by leveraging the power of technology.
- The use of Aadhaar had also increased over time.
- The enrolment reached 1.2 billion people, and the programme had acquired a scale and momentum that is irreversible.
- Necessary measures were also taken to ensure security of information provided by individuals while enrolling.
- So the Court upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and clarified areas in which it cannot be made mandatory.
- The judgement has thus plugged the loopholes rather than strike down the project altogether.
What next?
- There will be concerns with implementation as many businesses are likely to be affected adversely with the decision.
- Also, with respect to access to welfare schemes, it is possible that questions of exclusion and discrimination may be raised again.
- It is now for the government to focus on the implementation of this ruling.
- It must ensure that all such excessive demands are stopped, or it will be in contempt of court.
- The government has in the past, with impunity, extended the use of Aadhaar in defiance of previous Supreme Court stays on such actions.
- So the Supreme Court, too, must follow up on its judgment.
Source: The Hindu, Business Standard
