Aadhaar linkage will protect people: UIDAI

Aadhaar linkage will protect people: UIDAI

Context

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has told the Supreme Court that Aadhaar linkage seeks to protect people from crime

Petitioners’ arguments & center’s responses

Argument 1

• Petitioners argued that insistence on Aadhaar for all stigmatises people. It creates a feeling among the public that all are under the government’s scanner for financial fraud, terrorism and tax evasion
• Center’s response: When a measure is uniformly applied, it does not mean that everyone is guilty. Administrative measures do not mean individualized suspicion. There is no presumption of guilt on everyone

Argument 2

• Aadhar is intrusive and why the public should be subjected to such intrusion of their privacy only to prevent any chances of tax evasion
• Center’s response: When tax evasions amount to Rs. 33,000 crore, it is a serious problem which Aadhaar linkage may curb. Provisions like Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, which mandates the linking of Aadhaar with PAN, is an effort to “bridge the growing gap between the rich and the poor