PUBLISHED: 00:05 GMT, 13 February 2014 | UPDATED: 00:05 GMT, 13 February 2014
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked petitioners in PILs against Aadhaar cards how they could demand scrapping of the scheme on mere apprehension that personal information divulged by each individual could be misused, when so far there had been no complaints.
In observations that will be music to the ears of the Centre desperate to get its flagship scheme back on track ahead of the general elections, a bench said: "We know the benefits of the card and at the most you can say don't make the card mandatory but how is it unconstitutional. Most foreign countries also have their own comprehensive ID cards.
"How can we rule that the Aadhaar card is bad? Is there any complaint so far? Is there any civil or criminal case regarding any misuse of information.
Questions: A woman shows her Aadhaar card, which the Supreme Court say has no issues
"You only say there is a possibility of abuse and it is a mere presumption. This is your main point. What is the cause of action?" the bench asked senior advocate Shyam Divan.
Divan was representing Reetika Khera, an IIT professor who has challenged the constitutional validity of the card.
The Unique Identification Authority of India, centre's nodal agency which issues the card has urged the apex court to withdraw its September 23, 2013 ruling that the card cannot be made mandatory to enjoy government schemes and subsidies.