In 2009, I became extremely concerned with the concept of Unique Identity for various reasons. Connected with many like minded highly educated people who were all concerned.
On 18th May 2010, I started this Blog to capture anything and everything I came across on the topic. This blog with its million hits is a testament to my concerns about loss of privacy and fear of the ID being misused and possible Criminal activities it could lead to.
In 2017 the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict after one of the longest hearings on any issue. I did my bit and appealed to the Supreme Court Judges too through an On Line Petition.
In 2019 the Aadhaar Legislation has been revised and passed by the two houses of the Parliament of India making it Legal. I am no Legal Eagle so my Opinion carries no weight except with people opposed to the very concept.
In 2019, this Blog now just captures on a Daily Basis list of Articles Published on anything to do with Aadhaar as obtained from Daily Google Searches and nothing more. Cannot burn the midnight candle any longer.
"In Matters of Conscience, the Law of Majority has no place"- Mahatma Gandhi
Ram Krishnaswamy
Sydney, Australia.

Aadhaar

The UIDAI has taken two successive governments in India and the entire world for a ride. It identifies nothing. It is not unique. The entire UID data has never been verified and audited. The UID cannot be used for governance, financial databases or anything. It’s use is the biggest threat to national security since independence. – Anupam Saraph 2018

When I opposed Aadhaar in 2010 , I was called a BJP stooge. In 2016 I am still opposing Aadhaar for the same reasons and I am told I am a Congress die hard. No one wants to see why I oppose Aadhaar as it is too difficult. Plus Aadhaar is FREE so why not get one ? Ram Krishnaswamy

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.-Mahatma Gandhi

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.Mahatma Gandhi

“The invasion of privacy is of no consequence because privacy is not a fundamental right and has no meaning under Article 21. The right to privacy is not a guaranteed under the constitution, because privacy is not a fundamental right.” Article 21 of the Indian constitution refers to the right to life and liberty -Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi

“There is merit in the complaints. You are unwittingly allowing snooping, harassment and commercial exploitation. The information about an individual obtained by the UIDAI while issuing an Aadhaar card shall not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.”-A three judge bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said in an interim order.

Legal scholar Usha Ramanathan describes UID as an inverse of sunshine laws like the Right to Information. While the RTI makes the state transparent to the citizen, the UID does the inverse: it makes the citizen transparent to the state, she says.

Good idea gone bad
I have written earlier that UID/Aadhaar was a poorly designed, unreliable and expensive solution to the really good idea of providing national identification for over a billion Indians. My petition contends that UID in its current form violates the right to privacy of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This is because sensitive biometric and demographic information of citizens are with enrolment agencies, registrars and sub-registrars who have no legal liability for any misuse of this data. This petition has opened up the larger discussion on privacy rights for Indians. The current Article 21 interpretation by the Supreme Court was done decades ago, before the advent of internet and today’s technology and all the new privacy challenges that have arisen as a consequence.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha

“What is Aadhaar? There is enormous confusion. That Aadhaar will identify people who are entitled for subsidy. No. Aadhaar doesn’t determine who is eligible and who isn’t,” Jairam Ramesh

But Aadhaar has been mythologised during the previous government by its creators into some technology super force that will transform governance in a miraculous manner. I even read an article recently that compared Aadhaar to some revolution and quoted a 1930s historian, Will Durant.Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP

“I know you will say that it is not mandatory. But, it is compulsorily mandatorily voluntary,” Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Saba April 2017.

August 24, 2017: The nine-judge Constitution Bench rules that right to privacy is “intrinsic to life and liberty”and is inherently protected under the various fundamental freedoms enshrined under Part III of the Indian Constitution

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World; indeed it's the only thing that ever has"

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” -Edward Snowden

In the Supreme Court, Meenakshi Arora, one of the senior counsel in the case, compared it to living under a general, perpetual, nation-wide criminal warrant.

Had never thought of it that way, but living in the Aadhaar universe is like living in a prison. All of us are treated like criminals with barely any rights or recourse and gatekeepers have absolute power on you and your life.

Announcing the launch of the # BreakAadhaarChainscampaign, culminating with events in multiple cities on 12th Jan. This is the last opportunity to make your voice heard before the Supreme Court hearings start on 17th Jan 2018. In collaboration with @no2uidand@rozi_roti.

UIDAI's security seems to be founded on four time tested pillars of security idiocy

1) Denial

2) Issue fiats and point finger

3) Shoot messenger

4) Bury head in sand.

God Save India

Friday, April 4, 2014

5413 - 9 stunning uses for your otherwise useless Aadhar card

9 stunning uses for your otherwise useless Aadhar card
March 31, 2014 | Filed under: Featured,General,In Pics,Latest | Posted by: Ajayendar Reddy
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Follow @TheUnRealTimes
In a path breaking decision, the Supreme Court on last Monday asked the Indian government to withdraw all orders making Aadhaar or the unique identification (UID) number mandatory for residents. Also, earlier in January, bowing to political pressure and hue and cry from common citizens, the Indian government had put on hold its scheme to transfer subsidy money into bank accounts of consumers through Aadhaar. All this after Rs 3,494 crore had already been spent to enroll 53 crore Indians by the Unique Identification Authority of India till January of this year.
So, we at The UnReal Times have decided to come up with alternate uses for the Aadhar Card. 

(Disclaimer: Aadhar is not a card, but a number. But our motto is “Never let facts come in the way of a good joke”.)
1. You are poor. You had great expectations from Aadhar card. Turns out, it is just a useless card. It is summer. It is hot. You can’t afford a fan. Worry not. Put together the Aadhar cards of your whole family and make this beautiful hand-fan. BOOM! Problem solved.


2. You are a badass and a bit of an idiot. You love the Joker in the Batman movie. You wish you also had a calling card to leave at the scene of your petty crimes. Lying on your table is the pristine and the totally useless Aadhar card. Make copies and leave them at your crime scenes. BOOM! Problem solved.


3. You just watched a kickass Japanese Ninja movie. You wish you had those cool Ninja Stars to throw at the baddies. Lying in your drawer is the brand new Aadhar card. Cut it in this shape with sharp edges to make your own Ninja Stars. BOOM! Problem solved.


4. You are enjoying your day off reading a thrilling book. But your restless neighbour is throwing Ninja Stars at you and distracting you. You wish you had a cool bookmark. You open your wallet and find your shiny new Aadhar card. Go ahead and shove that into your book. BOOM! Problem solved.


5. You are enjoying a leisurely weekend at home with friends. You decide to play a game of cards. Suddenly panic strikes as the Joker, everybody’s favourite card, is found missing. Fear not. What can be a bigger joke than the Aadhar card you’ve just got made. Make it your Joker card. BOOM! Problem solved.


6. Sunday afternoon with friends, cards and a fridge full of beer. But your heroic friend just lost a chip of his tooth while trying to open the beer bottle. No one wants to risk it now. Worry not for the solution is in your pocket. Cut your brand new Aadhar card in this shape and voila, you have your bottle opener. BOOM! Problem solved.


7. You just bought a vintage car. It is your pride and your neighbour’s envy. You want to ward off the evil spirits. But you want to do more than the standard mirchi and nimbu. Wonder no more. What can be more off-putting than that Aadhar card you just got made after much effort but is utterly useless now? Add your Aadhar card to the mirchi and nimbu and no evil will ever come anywhere near you. BOOM! Problem solved.


8. It’s the peak of summer. You are worried that the UV rays might affect your eyes. You recently bought new Ray-Bans. But you are still worried about their effectiveness in dealing with UV rays. The solution is right in your pocket. Cut your Aadhar in the desired shape and add them to your glasses for the right amount of protected vision. BOOM! Problem solved. Also, no chick will be able to resist you in those Aadharified shades.


9. You had enough of your boyfriend/girlfriend. You can’t stand him/her anymore. It is time to break up. You want to make a strong statement. But you don’t know how. Inside the newly arrived courier is a shiny new and completely useless Aadhar card. Voila! Make a break-up card with your Aadhar card and break up in style and with substance. BOOM! Problem solved.



We hope you take our suggestions and make most of your Aadhar card. If you have any such glorious ideas, feel free to leave them in the comments.
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