New Delhi: The Supreme Court today struck down Section 57 of Aadhaar Act which permitted private parties to avail Aadhaar data.
Justice Sikri struck down Section 57 which permitted private entities to avail Aadhaar data from individuals and ruled that Aadhaar authentication data cannot be stored for more than six months.
No more can private companies demand Aadhaar this has also come as a relief for people who have been pestered by phone and bank companies, ABP reported.
“Allowing private players to use Aadhaar will lead to profiling which could be used to ascertain political views of citizens,” said Justice Chandrachud.
Aadhaar was initially meant for availing government schemes but every government/ private entity started demanding Aadhar making it mandatory.
A group of private companies had earlier this year appealed to the apex court seeking continuity for Aadhaar – the country’s citizen identity programme.