The Centre today moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order which said the Aadhaar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any Government schemes for want it.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said the plea of the Centre would be taken up for hearing on October 8.
“We seek modification of the order which said that Aadhaar card is not mandatory,” Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran, appearing for the Centre, said, adding that the order may come in the way of various welfare schemes.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had said the Aadhaar card being issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not mandatory for availing of any Government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilities for the want of the card.
It had asked the Centre not to issue it to illegal immigrants as it would legitimise their stay.
The Centre had also told the court that the Aadhaar card was optional and that it has not made it mandatory for the citizens.
The apex court had passed the earlier order while hearing a batch of pleas against decisions of some States to make Aadhaar cards compulsory for a range of activities including salary, PF disbursals and marriage and property registrations.
The petitioners had contended that the scheme was a complete infraction of Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) and even as the Government claims it to be voluntary but it is not so.