09 November 2015 15:14 GMT
India’s central government has said it is open to giving a biometrics-backed unique ID card legal support for wider use after the Supreme Court limited its remit over privacy fears.
The government on Friday did not rule out the possibility of bringing in a legislation to give legal sanctity to Aadhaar cards, reported the Business Standard.
In August, the court limited the card’s potential uses after petitioners alleged there would be a breach of privacy if the Aadhaar card is made mandatory in various government schemes.
The court restricted the use of the card only for availing subsidies under the public distribution system and purchasing kerosene and cooking gas, whereas the Nanedra Modi government has envbisioned its use in wide-ranging banking, taxation, electoral and welfare services.
The world’s largest biometric identity scheme, Aadhaar uses iris, fingerprint and facial data linked to unique ID numbers, and plans to include all 1.2 billion in India’s population.
In concluding remarks in Delhi Economics Conclave, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “…probably the government would try to place its stand before the court, and I think both options of being in court and before the legislature would always be open for any executive government.”
“Aadhaar and JAM Trinity are here to say,” the finance minister added.
JAM refers to use of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhar and transfers through mobile. Jaitley said a draft legislation on the issue is already there. He was referring to the National Identification Authority of India Bill.
Jaitley said there was a consensus on the need of Aadhaar card across political spectrum. “I think, now across the political spectrum, state governments after state governments, political groups after political groups, the need for this and utility for this has been universally recognised,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.planetbiometrics.com/article-details/i/3747/desc/indian-govt-supports-wider-aadhaar-card-use/#sthash.VSyb79zu.dpuf