The Supreme Court upheld the Aadhaar Act on 26 September 2018 by 4:1, allowing it for welfare and tax, but struck down compulsory use by private companies, ban…
An executive notification set up the Unique Identification Authority of India. Nandan Nilekani was named chairman in June.
Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi handed out the first numbers, linked to fingerprints and iris scans.
Retired judge K.S. Puttaswamy, 86, challenged Aadhaar as a biometric scheme with no law behind it.
The Court said no person should suffer for not having Aadhaar, despite circulars making it mandatory.
Aadhaar was limited to rations and LPG. The government's claim of no right to privacy went to a larger bench.
Orders before the verdict.
The Aadhaar Act cleared the Lok Sabha, which rejected the Rajya Sabha's five amendments. Assent came on 25 March.
And the dispute it left.
Orders made Aadhaar compulsory to keep bank accounts and to re-verify mobile SIMs.
The Court unanimously held privacy protected under Article 21, with a test of legality, aim and proportionality.
The Constitution Bench heard the main challenge from 17 January and reserved judgment on 10 May.
Aadhaar was upheld for welfare and tax. Private demands, bank and SIM linking were struck down.
What the Court decided.
Who decided the case.
One made the right, one applied it.
Banks and telecom firms may use Aadhaar only if customers choose. Section 57 was deleted.
The Court refused to reopen the 2018 judgment. Justice Chandrachud dissented again.
2019 to 2026.
The 2018 ruling governs Aadhaar. A seven-judge Money Bill reference has no ruling we could find.
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