SYMBOL OF DIGI ECONOMY

SC says Aadhaar has become a household name, its use spread like ‘ wildfire’

New Delhi, Sept. 26: The use of the Hindi word ‘ Aadhaar’ would not lead a person to its dictionary meaning but everyone would associate it with the card used to identify an individual that has now virtually become a symbol of a digital economy, the Supreme Court said Wednesday.

Noting that Aadhaar had also become a household name, it said its use has spread like a “wildfire”.

“It is better to be unique than the best. Because, being the best makes you the number one, but being unique makes you the only one,” said the top court,

‘ Aadhaar’ is termed

‘ Unique Identity’ by the Unique Identification Authority of India, which claims it not only to be a foolproof method of identifying a person, but also an instrument whereby a person can enter into any transaction without needing any other supporting document, a fivejudge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.

“Aadhaar which means in English, ' foundation' or ' base, has become the most talked about expression in recent years, not only in India but in many other countries and international bodies. The word from the Hindi dictionary has assumed secondary significance. Today, a mention of the word ' Aadhaar' would not lead a listener to the dictionary meaning of this word.

“Instead, every person on the very mentioning of this word ‘ Aadhaar’ would associate it with the card that is issued to a person from where he/ she can be identified,” a five- judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, said.

The apex court said ‘ Aadhaar’ has become a symbol of a digital economy and opened up multiple avenues for a common man.

The scheme, conceptualised in the year 2006 and launched in the year 2009 with the creation of UIDAI, has secured the enrolment of almost 1.1 billion people in the country, it said.