The government cannot make Aadhaar mandatory to access benefits and welfare schemes, the Supreme Court observed on Monday amid mounting criticism over expanding use of the controversial 12-digit unique identity number. The top court also said the government could use the biometric ID for non-benefit schemes and processes such as the opening of bank accounts. The observations come amid a storm over the government’s decision last week to make the biometric ID mandatory for PAN cards and filing IT returns. Read moreIn an interim order four years ago, the court had said Aadhaar couldn’t be made mandatory for government benefits. The Aadhaar act of 2016 also says that no one could be denied benefits on account of not having the ID, as long as someone had applied for it.

Source: Hindustan Times March 27, 2017 06:51 UTC