New Delhi: The NDA government is expected to tell the Supreme Court on Friday that Aadhaar is legal and valid under the provisions of the Constitution, a report published in The Indian Express suggested. The move is seen as the government' first explicit and public endorsement of UPA government's ambitious Aadhaar project.
Earlier this month, in response to a Public Interest Litigation, the apex court had sought the NDA government's position on the manner and validity of gathering information under the aegis of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar had sought time till February 13 to give the government's stand.
When the project was launched by the Congress-led UPA government, BJP expressed its reservations with Aadhar but after retaining power its government has given a decisive push to the project. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself having shown keen interest in the project, it has been linked to key schemes and made the basis of several social sector programmes.
However, the government has not publicly cleared its position on Aadhaar so far.
According to the government officials, the government will state that Aadhaar issued by the UIDAI is legal and valid under Article 77 of the Constitution, that validates an executive action of the government, taken in the name of the President
The National Identification Authority of India Bill, which seeks to make UIDAI a statutory body, has been in cold storage. The UIDAI was created through an executive order of the government and does not have a legal backing.
Sources say, with the government relying on Aadhaar for several schemes and the court raising questions, the Bill may have to be revived soon.
