09/01/2019 - Indian Polity

KEY POINTS

Provisions for betterment of citizens

·        The Aadhaar Act provides targeted delivery of subsidies and benefits to individuals residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar numbers.

·        The Bill amends the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to state that telecom companies, banks and financial institutions may verify the identity of their clients, to prevent the activities of anti-social elements.

·        Under the Act, restrictions on security and confidentiality of Aadhaar related information do not apply in case the disclosure is pursuant to an order of a High Court (or above), which allows greater scrutiny by authorities before accessing to the data. Further, under the Act, an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary may issue directions for disclosing information in the interest of national security.

·        The Bill to allows the individual to register complaints in certain cases, including impersonation or disclosure of their identity.

Criticisms of the  Aadhaar bill

·        The Supreme Court has found that the operation of Aadhaar by private entities violates fundamental rights.

·        Misuse of powers by Secretary with respect to national interest provides room for violating the right to privacy.

·        Enable commercial exploitation of an individual biometric and demographic information by the private entities.

·        In any event, the proposed legislative amendments virtually seek to impose Aadhaar as a prerequisite for the availing of certain basic services. Example: purchase of SIM cards, Mobile phones, Opening of Bank Accounts.

·        Issues relating to cyber security as hackers can use the information from Aadhar for Phishing, Ransom ware etc. 

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