PC assails Aadhaar Bill in top court

New Delhi: Former Union minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday assailed in the Supreme Court the Centre’s action in introducing “Aadhaar Bill” as a “money bill’ in the Lok Sabha only to bypass the scrutiny of Rajya Sabha.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it clear that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for students appearing in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test ( for medical and dental admissions) in the country and they can produce other means of identity, viz ration card, voter identity card, driving licence, passport and bank passbook.

A five Judge Constitution Bench comprising the Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A. K. Sikri, A. M. Kanwilkar, D. Y. Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan passed this order after senior counsel Arvind P. Datar brought to the notice of the court that the CBSE was insisting on production of Aadhaar card for students to appear in the NEET examination and this would deprive many students from taking the exam.

Attorney- general K. K. Venugopal informed the court that the government had not given any instruction to the CBSE to insist on Aadhaar as the students can produce any other form of identity. On extending the linkage of Aadhaar for various services beyond March 31, the AG said though the government was willing to extend, it would argue on this point. The CJI told the counsel “we would pass appropriate orders next week if the government does not extend the time limit on its own in the meantime.”

In a brief order the Bench said students appearing for NEET or any other all India competitive examination need not necessarily produce Aadhaar as they can produce any other identity for taking the examination.

The Bench asked the counsel to inform the CBSE about this order so that the CBSE could upload this order in its website.