TO LINK OR NOT TO LINK

For the Congress, the Aadhaar was an instrument of empowerment. For the BJP, the Aadhaar is a tool of oppression and surveillance RAHUL GANDHI, Congress chief

THE FOLLOWING IS THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SUPREME COURT DECLARING THE CENTRE’S AADHAAR SCHEME AS CONSTITUTIONALLY VALID ALTHOUGH IT STRUCK DOWN SOME PROVISIONS INCLUDING THE LINKING OF THE BIOMETRIC ID WITH BANK ACCOUNTS, MOBILES & SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Jan. 2009: Planning Commission notification on UIDAI. 2010- 2011: National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 introduced. Nov 2012: Retired Justice K. S. Puttaswamy and others file PILs in SC challenging validity of Aadhaar. Mar 3, 2016: Aadhaar Bill, 2016 introduced in Lok Sabha; later passed as Money Bill. May 2017: Former Union minister Jairam Ramesh moves SC Challenging the Centre’s decision to treat Aadhaar bill as a money bill. AUG 24, 2017: SC nine- judge bench rules that right to privacy is a fundamental right. Dec 15: SC extends deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes till March 31, 2018. Jan 17, 2018: SC fivejudge bench begins hearing Aadhaar case. Feb 21: SC says the alleged defect that citizens’ biometric details under the Aadhaar scheme were being collected without any law, could be cured by subsequently bringing a statute. Mar 7: SC says Aadhaar not mandatory for enrollment of students in all India exams. Mar. 13: SC extends March 31 deadline of Aadhaar linking till it gives its order. Mar. 22: UIDAI CEO says breaking the Aadhaar encryption may take “more than the age of the universe for the fastest computer on earth”. Apr. 3: Centre tells SC Aadhaar law is just, fair & reasonable. Apr. 17: SC raises concerns that there is a threat of Aadhaar data misuse. Apr. 25: SC questions Centre on mandatory seeding of Aadhaar with mobile. Sept. 26: SC upholds constitutional validity of Aadhaar but strikes down certain provisions including its linking with bank accounts.