Aadhaar card not mandatory on Co-WIN portal for Covid vaccination: Centre tells SC

The apex court had on October 1, 2021, issued notice to the Centre on the PIL

One of the nine identity documents including passport, Driving Licence, PAN card, Voter's Card, Ration card can be produced for vaccination. Credit: Reuters File Photo

The Supreme Court on Monday told all the authorities concerned to follow the Centre’s policy on Covid-19 vaccination and not insist on an Aadhaar card for administering the jab.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant recorded a statement from the Centre's counsel that Aadhaar is neither mandatory for registration on the Co-WIN portal nor a precondition for availing Covid vaccination and any of the nine identity cards can be produced.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Siddharth Shankar Sharma, through advocate Mayank Kshrisagar, seeking directions to authorities to not insist on the Aadhaar card as the only proof of identification for administering the vaccine.

Also read: Co-WIN rejects college ID as proof to vaccinate 15-18-year-olds

The Centre’s counsel informed the bench that 87 Lakh people have been vaccinated, without an identity card, in the ongoing vaccination drive.

The bench noted that the Centre’s affidavit established that the Aadhaar card is not mandatory for registration on the Co-WIN portal and any one of the nine documents, which includes a PAN card, passport etc, can be used for registration.

The petitioner claimed that he was denied vaccination due to the non-availability of the Aadhaar card.

The court noted that the grievance of the petitioner has been dealt with.

The Centre also said that there is also a provision to conduct vaccination sessions for certain categories of persons, including those in old age homes, roadside beggars, without even the prescribed identity cards.

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