New Delhi: The Aadhaar Bill, which gives statutory backing to the unique identity number scheme for better targeting of subsidies was passed in Parliament on Wednesday but questions are being raised over privacy of citizen's information.
Private agencies will be able to use Aadhaar and it contradicts statement of objects and reasons of the Bill.
When the Bill was introduced, the government said it is confined to government expenditure, but the Bill allows it to be used as proof of identity. The intelligence and law enforcement agencies will be able to access all the information.
The government considers the Aadhaar bill as a significant instrument for implementing its Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes by better targeting of beneficiaries. The Opposition, however, attacked the government saying it was violating the Supreme Court direction that Aadhaar card cannot be made mandatory but should only be voluntary.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who moved the bill and piloted them in both the Houses, also turned down opposition argument that Parliament cannot legislate since the matter is before Supreme Court. "Parliament cannot abdicate its duty under the Constitution which clearly separates powers among various institutions," he said.
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