The Supreme Court has ruled that the Centre can’t make Aadhaar card mandatory for the citizens to secure benefits of the social security schemes, but the State Government has apparently not made its stand clear leaving the citizens confused.
The State Government had decided to link various public services like registration of land and marriages, pension and salary among other things with Aadhaar number from January 1. The oil companies are also ‘SMSing’ the consumers to provide the unique identification number to avail subsidy direct in their bank account.
No wonder, there was confusion over it on day 1 in the registry office leading to a few transactions of land, forcing the departmental secretary to come out with a notice that the ‘Aadhaar number as a mandatory identification proof has been suspended till further order’. “We are yet to think on the number of days the people have got the relaxation. Probably up to next three months residents will not have to submit Aadhaar number as a mandatory identification proof for land, birth or for any other registration. This will soon be finalised through a notification,” Rajendra Rai, Nodal Officer (Computerisation) of State Registration department said.
But the other departments have not been so prompt. Describing the scenario at the State Welfare department, an official of National University of Study and Research in law said, “The forms for scholarships of the reserved category students of our university were submitted in the Welfare department only after they attached a photocopy of their Aadhaar cards.”
Ironically, the oil companies have also not made it clear whether lPG consumers will continue to receive subsidy even if not linked to the Aadhaar card, in view of the Supreme Court order. According to Indian Oil Company (IOC) Deputy General Manager DK Saha, the Government is yet to take a decision on granting subsidy to its customers for liquefied Petroleum Gas connection (lPG) without Aadhaar card number. “Probably after January 31, it would be mandatory to give Aadhaar number for getting cylinders at subsidised rate despite knowing about SC’s version,” he said.
Expectedly, the lPG consumers are an angry lot. “What is the use of having Voter card if Aadhaar card is the only identification proof for getting lPG connectionIJ There is no legal provision mentioning Aadhaar as the one and only ID proof,” said Jollywood Website owner Sushil Ankan.
Ironically, Under Secretary in the Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs department, Satish Nath Pandey, said, “The Supreme Court’s guideline cannot be applied at the State-level. “We are accepting application for ration card from both below and above poverty line individuals only if they are submitting along with a copy of Aadhaar card.”
Special Secretary-cum-Director Employment and Training V Sah, however, said that they have made the Aadhaar provision optional. Sriparna Basak, an English M Phil student of Ranchi University said, “Our Government should either make this Aadhaar provision compulsory in all the departments or remove this process. This half self-decided concept is creating a flaw.”