SC refuses to modify order limiting role of Aadhaar
Dhananjay Mahapatra,TNN | Oct 8, 2015, 03.43 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In a big setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to give a ruling on the Narendra Modi government's high-pitched and public interest-laced plea to allow citizens to voluntarily use Aadhaar cards to avail benefits under all social welfare schemes.
This means, the apex court's August 11 interim order limiting the use of Aadhaar cards to access subsidy on LPG cylinders and ration under public distribution system holds good.
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A bench of Justices J Chelameswar, S A Bobde and C Nagappan in its brief order said since petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar cards have been referred to a five-judge Constitution bench, it would be better that the same bench takes a decision on applications filed by the Centre and other bodies seeking modification of the August 11 order.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the Centre would mention the issue before the chief justice on Thursday itself seeking an early decision on its applications on universal use of Aadhaar on a voluntary basis.