Centre moves SC for modification of order on Aadhar card

Plea would be taken up for hearing on October 8

The Centre on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order which said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want it.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that the plea of the Centre would be taken up for hearing on October 8.

"We seek modification of the order which said that Aadhar card is not mandatory," Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, appearing for the Centre, said, adding that the order may come in the way of various welfare schemes.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had said that the Aadhar card, being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not mandatory for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilites for the want of the card.

It had asked the Centre not to issue it to illegal immigrants as it would legitimise their stay.

Centre had also told the court that the Aadhar card was optional and that it has not made it mandatory for the citizens.

The apex court had passed the earlier order while hearing a batch of pleas against decisions of some states to make Aadhar cards compulsory for a range of activities including salary, PF disbursals and marriage and property registrations.

The petitioners had contended that the scheme was complete infraction of Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) and even as government claims it to be voluntary but it is not so.