The Supreme Court of India said yesterday that possession of Aadhaar Card should not be a pre-condition for people to benefit from various welfare schemes of the Centre as well as the respective State Governments.

Various petitions have been filed with the apex Court against Centre’s decision to make possession of Aadhaar Cards mandatory to benefit from its welfare schemes. A Constitution Bench of the apex Court Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice A.M. Kanvilkar, Justice Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan has been taking up the interrogation of these petitions.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal representing petitioners told the Court that a situation had arisen where in people living below-poverty-line were finding it hard to reap the benefirts of various social defence/welfare schemes of the State and Central Govts if they didn’t have Aadhaar Cards with them.

“Basic needs such as nutritious meals at schools, widow’s pension and many social welfare schemes are brought within the ambit of ‘Aadhaar Cards’ without which it is impossible for the concerned people to get benefits of these schemes. A stay should be given on making Aadhaar Card mandatory for people to get the benefits of various welfare and social defence schemes formulated to benefit them,” Sibal argued.

Solicitor-General Tusshar Metha representing the State said that Aadhaar cards had been given to 96% of the population. “No welfare scheme would be denied to anyone for not possessing Aadhaar cards and the deadline of linking Aadhaar cards to bank accounts/gas connections has been extended till 31st March,” he told the Court.

“Nobody should be denied the benefit of welfare scheme for not possessing Aadhaar Cards as people below poverty lie have right to demand and get the benefits of social welfare schemes.  Instead of Aadhaar cards, identities can be easily verified by ration ard, voter’s identity card and other cards,” the apex Court ruled in its judgment.