SC turns down Centre's plea to modify its order on Aadhaar

The bench however agreed to give an urgent hearing on a bunch of petitions challenging the legal status of Aadhaar card being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Observing that the prevailing situation is a “double edged problem”, the bench said that no order can be passed without hearing the parties who challenged the Aadhaar and posted the case for final hearing after Dussehra vacation.  

Pushing hard to convince the bench, the AG submitted that the apex court interim order would have serious implications and thousands of people who are given gas cylinder subsidies would be affected.

“Aadhaar is the only fool proof mechanism to check misuse of subsidies. People won't get gas cylinder subsidies. 76 percent consumers are registered under the Aadhaar and they will be affected,” the AG submitted.

Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao, appearing for oil PSU, also pleaded for modification of order, saying that distribution system would come to a grinding halt and we cannot get back to the old system.