‘Aadhaar process harassing citizens’
EMN
Dimapur, May 18
The Purana Bazar Village Council of Dimapur has asked the government of Nagaland why it was insisting on as mandatory of Aadhaar Card when even the Supreme Court of India had made clear that the facility was not necessary for genuine citizens to avail facilities and benefits by right. The council issued a press release on Monday, May 18, seeking clarifications from the state. The press release also included excerpts about the statement of the Supreme Court that the Aadhaar was not necessary.
“As per the Supreme Court of India, the Aadhaar Card is not compulsory and further, officials who insist on them will be taken to task and is clear violation of the Supreme Court's interim order of September 23, 2013,” the council stated.
The statement of the Supreme Court of India was published in the local newspapers in Nagaland as well. “Still then Aadhaar is being insisted upon by various authorities ignoring the judgment of Supreme Court of India that makes all the ordinary citizens to run helter-skelter to get Aadhaar Card just not to miss the opportunity leaving aside all the expenditure made during this period which shortened the family monthly budget,” the council said.
The council queried: “We the Council authority felt necessary to enquire from the higher authority that, is Aadhaar Card a mandatory for all citizens even to open new bank accounts or to get services etc? Further, the Election department wants to update Aadhaar Card with electoral roll, where many ordinary citizens were no such facilities. What will happen if they cannot produce the same, will their name be eliminate from the electoral roll? That, may loss one's citizens right”.
The council has appealed to the government to clarify to the public. “…needless to say that instruction should be give to both public and private sector not to insist the same so as to avoid tension and also to save time and money in the interest of the public…” the council stated.
Supreme Court’s statement: Excerpts
“Clearing all doubts about the validity of Aadhaar card to avail of government subsidies, the Supreme Court on Monday confirmed that the Aadhaar card is not compulsory, and further, officials who insist on them will be taken on task.
A fuming Supreme Court issued a stern warning to the government on learning that many government authorities still insist on Adhaar for providing government subsidies and basic services to ordinary citizens. A Bench of Justices J. Chelameswar, S.A. Boble and C. Nagappan clarified that demands made by officials of Addhaar card is in clear violation of the Supreme Court’s interim order of September 23, 2013.
In the 2013 order, the apex court had directed that “no person should suffer for not getting the Adhaar card, in spite of the fact that some authority had issued a circular making it mandatory”.
The Court’s summary dismissal of Adhaar car’s validity comes at a time when over 750 million Aadhaar numbers have already been generated.
‘Adhaar is being insisted upon by various authorities. We expect the Union of India and all the State of adhere to the order dated September 23, 2013. We will take the officers concerned to task if any order comes record making it (AAdhaar) mandatory.” Justice Chrlameswar observed.
As an example, he referred to NCT government’s notification on March 9,2015, insisting that couples require Aadhaar cards to get their marriage registered under the special Marriage Act. In fact, senior advocate Anil Divan pointed out that the Bombay High Court Registrar has recently received an official communication asking him to make Aadhaar mandatory for disbursal of salary to staff and even judges.”
