AADHAAR RELATED ARTICLES: 12344 - The curious cases of citizens sans Aadhaar

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

Thursday, November 9, 2017

12344 - The curious cases of citizens sans Aadhaar - TNN

The curious cases of citizens sans Aadhaar

Arya UR| Sep 25, 2017, 00:00 IST

It seems that Aadhaar has become the most important social identification document with the government insisting on it for availing of not just welfare schemes but also every crucial service. Aadhaar linkage has now been demanded for bank accounts, ration cards, death certification and filing income tax returns, and the Centre is also pushing to even link it with driving licences.

With the Supreme Court expressing concerns last month about Aadhaar impacting the Right to Privacy of the citizens, the deadline for many social welfare schemes have been pushed to December 31, offering respite to many who are yet to apply for Aadhaar. The Centre though seems to be in no mood to cow down when it comes to making Aadhaar compulsory. So, we caught up with those who don't have one yet, to know if they have had any difficulty leading a normal life sans the 12-digit unique identification number:

Filing tax returns without Aadhaar is troublesome

Liji George, an NGO worker from Thiruvananthapuram

My family, including husband and two children, do not possess Aadhaar cards. Initially, we didn't face any hassles. However, last month my husband was forced to apply for Aadhaar card as he had trouble receiving his salary and PF-related contributions. His company requested him to submit Aadhaar details to avoid transaction failures. I failed to file the tax returns this year as PAN card and Aadhaar was supposed to be linked to be able to do so. I think, this way, people are being forced to apply for Aadhaar card.

Aadhaar has become necessary for employment

Anaswara Korattyswaroopam, Techie from Thrissur

I was asked for my Aadhaar details while joining my job at Technopark last year. As I didn't have one, they said to submit it later to complete the verification procedures and for seamless salary transactions. However, till now I haven't faced any difficulty without it. The deadline extension for Aadhaar has come as a relief for people like me. As the apex court has set the next hearing for Aadhaar-related issues in November, we will all finally get an answer on whether Aadhaar is mandatory. Meanwhile, a prominent telecom service provider disabled my number as I failed to submit the Aadhaar number to continue their services.

From availing of bank loans to porting phone connection, they are thrusting Aadhaar on us

Harish Vasudevan, HC lawyer and environmental activist from Kochi

I haven't taken an Aadhaar and have no plans either. I think making it mandatory for every financial and other welfare services is like pressurising us to apply for it, leaving no other option. I have faced various issues by not having one. When I approached a nationalised bank for opening a new account, they told me I needed an Aadhaar card to do so. I had to argue with them and tell them that the date for availing Aadhaar has been extended and that it's within my rights to receive the service without the card. Those who are not aware of this are forced to take Aadhaar quickly as bank loans are emergency financial aids for a common man. I also haven't filed my tax returns and failed to port my mobile connection.

I was denied loan even though SC has extended the deadline for Aadhaar

Sudeep J Salim,

Freelance media professional from Thiruvananthapuram

I don't have any plans to take Aadhaar as it intrudes our privacy and violates our fundamental rights. Also, I don't understand why the officials force us to have Aadhaar when it is not yet formally made a mandatory document. A few weeks ago, I had to apply for a loan from a nationalised bank and the first thing they asked me was Aadhaar card number. When I said I don't have one, they denied the loan, quoting that it is mandatory. I had to inform the bank manager about Supreme Court's privacy concerns and that Aadhar is not yet mandatory. Later, they informed me they were unaware of the court's ruling and were told by their 'higher officials' to give financial assistance to customers only after receiving Aadhaar details. It is sad that they are not even aware of what's happening and compel people to submit Aadhaar.