Such benefits are covered by Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, which deals with the delivery of financial benefits and subsidies and services under government welfare programmes. The court restrained the authorities from insisting on Aadhaar for issuance of tatkal passports, which are processed faster. He showed the court his colleague Vrinda Grover’s passport, which was cancelled because she refused to part with her Aadhaar details. The bench is currently hearing petitioners who have questioned the validity of Aadhaar and subsequent rules making the number mandatory for such services. It had expressed displeasure over banks, mobile phone companies and financial institutions continuing to coerce people to link their Aadhaar number for uninterrupted services.

Source: Hindustan Times March 13, 2018 11:04 UTC