Aadhaar verdict: How landmark Supreme Court ruling affects common man

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act and said it doesn’t violate citizens' right to privacy when they agree to share their biometric data. 

The pathbreaking judgment was pronounced by a five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice AK Sikri, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan.

Also read: Supreme Court's Aadhaar verdict: Bank accounts, mobile services need not be linked; but must for I-T returns

While reading out his part, Justice Sikri said that the Aadhaar card goes with the spirit of “better to be unique than the best” and “larger public interest” in the face of apprehensions of India becoming a surveillance state.  

Stopping leakage and pilferage of government funds is a valid objective in the interest of the people and the apex court held that Aadhaar stands for minimal data collection, the judgment said.

Here's what Aadhaar would be needed/not needed for post this landmark verdict

Aadhaar will be needed for:

Filing of income tax returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN). 

To avail services under all government welfare schemes and subsidies as it empowers the poor and marginalised.

Aadhaar will not be mandatory for:

The apex court made it clear that citizens cannot be denied services if they do not have an Aadhaar number.

1. Aadhaar would not be necessary for getting admission to educational institutions. The University Grants Commission (UGC), National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) cannot ask for Aadhaar numbers and hold a candidate’s application for non-availability of Aadhaar card.

2. Also, you won’t need an Aadhaar to buy a SIM card. It is also not mandatory to link it to your phone number.

3. The apex court has also said that commercial banks, payments banks and e-wallet companies like Paytm cannot seek your Aadhaar data. So far, wallets and banks have made sharing of Aadhaar details mandatory. However, you would still need to fulfill other KYC criteria.

4. No private company can push candidates to share their Aadhaar details.

5. Aadhaar details are also not needed for availing of mid-day meals.

6. Aadhaar not mandatory for Public Provident Fund and National Savings Certificates.

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