Aadhaar amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 1

The government will introduce the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that will bring changes in the Act having far-reaching implications as also comply with the Supreme Court ruling.

As per the revised list of business of the Lok Sabha for Wednesday, Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will introduce in the House “a Bill to amend the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, and further to amend the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002”.

The amendment Bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet on December 17 last year.

The amendments to the existing Telegraph Act and PMLA-2002 will make sharing of Aadhaar details “voluntary for opening bank accounts, school admissions and procuring mobile SIM cards”, sources said.

The government’s decision came after the Supreme Court in September ruled that the private companies can’t demand the 12-digit unique identity for providing services.

“The telecom sector, which has been accepting Aadhaar for giving SIM cards cannot ask for Aadhaar number,” the apex court had noted on September 23 in its landmark judgment. The SC had also ruled out the mandate of the Aadhaar card for admissions in schools.

Provisions under amended law

• Under the amended law, firms violating provisions of the Aadhaar Act face penalty of up to Rs 1 crore, with additional fine of up to Rs 10 lakh per day for repeat non-compliance
• A UIDAI fund is proposed to be set up under Aadhaar Act whereby the authority will be exempt from taxes on income
• Children holding Aadhaar can opt for cancellation of 12-digit biometric identifier within six months of turning 18 with consent of a parent or guardian