The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared the Aadhaar scheme as constitutionally valid but struck down some provisions – including the linking of the 12-digit biometric card with bank accounts, telecom services and school admissions.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra held that while Aadhaar would remain mandatory for filing of Income Tax returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN), it would not be compulsory to link Aadhaar to bank accounts and telecom service.
Neither would it be mandatory for school admissions and examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical entrance and the University Grants Commission.
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In the five-judge constitution bench, three sets of judgements were pronounced – one, by Justice AK Sikri who wrote the judgement for himself, the CJI and Justice AM Khanwilkar. Justice Chandrachud and Justice A Bhushan, who are part of the bench, have written their individual opinions.
What’s mandatory for linking Aadhaar:
*PAN
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*Filing Income Tax returns
*Facilities of government subsidies and welfare schemes
What’s not mandatory for linking Aadhaar:
*Bank Accounts
*Telecom services
*School admissions
*CBSE, NEET, UGC cannot make it compulsory
*No child can be denied benefits under any scheme if they are unable to bring Aadhaar
