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

Monday, May 4, 2020

14459 - 3RD MAY 2020,


Aadhaar,
Daily update ⋅ 3 May 2020

UIDAI allows Common Service Centres to update Aadhaar
Northeast Now
The CSCs will, however, not be allowed to accept the new applicants for Aadhaar, reports say. Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a tweet ...

PF Withdrawal for COVID-19: Not able to get provident fund money? This could be the reason ...
Zee Business
So your Aadhaar should be linked with a mobile. If your basic details such as name, date of birth and gender against UAN are same as that in Aadhaar, ...

You can claim 100% tax deduction on donation towards PM CARES Fund
Business Standard
Due date for linking PAN-Aadhaar extended: It is mandatory to obtain Aadhaar number in India (subject to exceptions) and mention it in the tax return ...

l number of Covid-19 patients in Maharashtra surges to 11506
All India Radio
On the other hand, Aadhaar Enabled Payment System - AEPS service of the Indian Postal Department is serving people effectively during lockdown.

Gurugram: Compile workers' info, sarpanches told
Times of India
... village heads to note down details, such as name and family members, permanent address, Aadhaar card number and contact number, of workers.

No relief for residents of Yakutpura
The Siasat Daily
Some members are taking their aadhaar cards to provide them token but at last they were said that the token has finished. Get the latest updates in ...

Pay fine, show documents to get your vehicles back
The New Indian Express
... are required to get the vehicles back, namely, receipt of penalty paid, Registration Certificate, Driving License, Aadhaar Card and a bond stating that ...

Cops demand smartphones, passports from violators in return for vehicles
The New Indian Express
The police collected photocopies of registration certificates and Aadhaar cards from the vehicle owners and asked them to appear before the court ...

Digital Payment volumes on most NPCI channels report record decline in April
Economic Times
Aadhar Enabled Payment System was the only channel which recorded increased transactions on the back of payouts of government's relief fund to ...

Ex-babus suggest incentives to hold back migrant labourers
Free Press Journal
The details includes their contact number, Aadhaar number their current address, destination address and preferred mode of transport. A certificate ...

Postal deliveries, orders in Chandigarh down by 93% amid Covid-19 lockdown
Hindustan Times
Aadhaar enabled payment service (AEPS) is another unique service being provided at doorsteps to the customer of any bank, using which they can ...

Lockdown impact: Digital transactions nosedive in April, shows NPCI data
Business Standard
The only segment that saw a rise in payments is Aadhaar-based biometric payments (AePS). The volume in April was 147087.6 million through 411.5 ...

Coronavirus lockdown: How banks are focussing on 'contactless financing' to help borrowers
Business Today
Now if you have to open an account or avail any banking service with banks, some of them will facilitate it with video KYC and Aadhaar-based OTP.

Police to make list of migrant labourers, pilgrims, students stranded in the city
Hindustan Times
Police have released an application form for migrants to fill in their name, Aadhaar details, mobile number, address and medical certificate. The list is ...

Odisha CM Patnaik Discusses Return Of Migrants With Karnataka, Andhra CMs
Republic World
The Odias stranded across the country have to register their names with Aadhaar and mobile phone numbers in a portal launched by Odisha ...
Himachal asks residents stuck outside state to register on online portal
THE WEEK
A photocopy of Aadhaar card or any other government identity proof will be required and boarding will be allowed only after a medical examination, ...

Does JAM Trinity and PDS Ensure the Coronavirus Relief Package Reaches Last Mile with Astha ...
Transfin.
With Covid-19 unleashing an economic crisis at an unprecedented scale, the role of new age Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) infrastructure with ...
Interest benefit scheme to support MSME approved by Haryana cabinet
Hindustan Times
The unit should have filed industrial entrepreneur or Udyog Aadhaar memorandum after coming into commercial production. It should obtain or have ...
'Aarogya Setu a Sophisticated Surveillance System': Rahul Gandhi
The Quint
... Bhatia reacted saying “willing to bet that the "1-2" years is going to turn into "forever," just like "voluntary" turned into "mandatory" with Aadhaar.” ...

Special train for migrants to run from Bhiwandi to Gorakhpur tonight
United News of India
... of Gorakhpur and who have the residence in Gorakhpur and the Aadhar card from the district would be allowed to travel in this point-to-point train.

Trains for migrants: 'Officials told us at 11 pm, we packed clothes, rushed'
The Indian Express
We were screened, given token numbers, asked to show our Aadhaar cards, and then told to board buses. Around 2 am we left for the train station,” ...