It doesn’t violate privacy: UIDAI

New Delhi, September 26

Welcoming the “historic, landmark” Supreme Court judgment, Aadhaar-issuing authority UIDAI on Wednesday said the apex court upheld the validity of the biometric identity system that neither created a surveillance state nor violated privacy.

“It has been established by the judgment that Aadhaar is not for the state surveillance as profiling is not possible using the minimal data that Aadhaar has. There are sufficient safeguards to disallow any abuse,” Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said.

“Aadhaar Act has withstood the judicial scrutiny and the purpose of the Act is legitimate,” it said.

The UIDAI said the court has upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and accepted that there is a legitimate state aim in the 12-digit biometric ID.

“Aadhaar as an idea is fully upheld that it does not create a surveillance state and does not violate privacy,” it said, adding: “The verdict Aadhaar is a tool of empowerment of the marginalised sections of society.”

UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said: “Aadhaar has come out winning as the champion of the empowerment of people, especially the marginalised sections of society and also as the key to the welfare schemes delivery of the government that has eradicated the fakes, duplicates and middlemen. The verdict is a victory for UIDAI and the government and has also set the pace of India’s digital destiny.”

He, however, added that some reasonable conditions and restrictions on private usages have been imposed as safeguards that would further strengthen Aadhaar as the unique identity in the service of the people, especially the poor.

UIDAI said that the verdict has recognised that “Aadhaar respect human dignity and does not violate privacy”. “The Supreme Court has underlined that the dignity is not only in reference to an individual but is also the dignity within the community,” it said. “The Supreme Court also found Aadhaar Act passes the ‘balancing tests’ as Aadhaar collects only minimal data.” — TNS/PTI

‘Judgment of empowering democracy’

The court has held that the purpose of issuing Aadhaar to all Indian citizens is legitimate and no surveillance is possible. It’s a judgment of empowering democracy, good governance, service delivery and also empowering the ordinary Indian. — Ravi Shankar Prasad, Law & IT Minister

‘it’s a Victory of people’

It’s a victory of people… From day one, we have fought for this. Not linking Aadhaar to mobile phones, bank accounts and others is a great relief for the common people. My best wishes to all. — Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM

‘Aadhaar has plugged leakages’

This is a very progressive judgment. Aadhaar has helped in plugging leakages and improving efficiency. The direct benefit transfer scheme has helped the government in saving Rs 90,000 crore annually. — Amitabh Kant, NITI Aayog CEO

‘Great facility, opening bank a/c easier’

From services point of view, it’s a great facility as it has made the process of opening of bank accounts convenient. Around 80-85% accounts are linked with Aadhaar. The bank is opening around 27,000 digital accounts per day using its Yono platform, and no paper work is required for these accounts.  Rajnish Kumar, SBI Chairman

‘Card gives strength to the poor’

We see this as a big victory of the pro-poor Modi government. The SC has repeated what Modi has been saying that the poor are the power of the nation and the card gives strength to them… It is totally safe. This is also what we have been saying. Sambit Patra, BJP spokesman

‘it’s a Slap on the face of BJP’

Slap on the face of BJP. Justice Sikri’s judgment strikes down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which says private body corporates can seek Aadhaar data. Says it’s unconstitutional. All plans to monetise biometric data now fail… SC rightly appreciated brilliant idea in origin. SC brilliantly threw out #bjp #modi accumulated dirty bathwater and saved the baby. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesman

‘Have better, stronger Aadhaar now’

The judgment has validated the founding principles of the 12-digit identification number that is critical to the developmental goals of the nation. It has undergone the ultimate scrutiny. Through the democratic process of discussion and debate, we have created a better and stronger Aadhaar together.  Nandan Nilekani, Aadhaar architect