Govt to move apex court on Aadhaar order

The government is planning to approach the Supreme Court for modification of its interim order directing Aadhaar card will not be mandatory for availing of government services.

Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily said he had spoken to Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran on the issue. “I think they are approaching the Supreme Court for a correction. I cannot say anything more now,” he said.

Moily, however, said the rollout of Aadhaar-based cash subsidy payout to cooking gas (LPG) will not be affected and will continue as planned. .

The direct benefit transfer on LPG makes it mandatory for a household consumer to have an Aadhaar number for getting cash subsidy after a three month grace period in districts where it is being rolled out.

 Hearing a petition against the Aadhaar scheme which petitioners had contended was unconstitutional, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court had said: “No person should suffer for getting the Aadhaar card in spite of the fact that some authority had issued a circular making it mandatory.”