#Aadhaar cannot be used by Govt. for any purpose other than the PDS Scheme and in particular for the purpose of distribution of food grains, cooking fuel,LPG etc ;SC [Read the Order]

The Supreme Court bench constituting Justices J. Chelameswar, S.A. Bobde and C. Nagappan has decided to refer the challenges to the Aadhar program to a constitution bench, especially to determine the existence of a right to privacy as a fundamental right.

The Bench also passed an interim order issuing the following directions;

1. The Union of India shall give wide publicity in  the  electronic  and print  media  including  radio  and  television  networks  that  it  is  not mandatory for a citizen to obtain an Aadhaar card;
2. The production of an Aadhaar card will not be condition for obtaining any benefits otherwise due to a citizen;
3. The Unique Identification Number or the Aadhaar card will not be used by the respondents for  any  purpose  other  than  the  PDS  Scheme  and  in particular for the purpose of distribution of  foodgrains, etc. and  cooking fuel, such as kerosene.  The Aadhaar card may also be used for  the  purpose of the LPG Distribution Scheme;
4. The information  about  an  individual  obtained   by   the   Unique Identification Authority of India while issuing an Aadhaar  card  shall  not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be  directed  by a Court for the purpose of criminal investigation.

 

Read the Judgment here.