NEW DELHI: Aadhaar is constitutionally fair and gives “dignity to the marginalised but it would not lead a person to its dictionary meaning everyone would associate it with the card used to identify an individual that has now virtually become a symbol of a digital economy, the Supreme Court said, allowing the government to mandate the unique identity number to access subsidies and welfare schemes.
The court ordered that the government could not make the Aadhaar number a condition for operating bank accounts, mobile phones and school or college admissions. It is better to be unique than the best. Because, being the best makes you the number one, but being unique makes you the only one,” said the top court.
It also cancelled the clause that permitted a joint secretary-rank official to authorise security agencies to get Aadhaar-related information. Aadhaar’ is termed ‘Unique Identity’ but also an instrument whereby a person can enter into any transaction without needing any other supporting document,a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.
