Self-styled social activist Greneth M Sangma has sought exemption of Aadhaar in Sixth Schedule areas of the State stating it is not mandatory as per a Supreme Court order of 2018.
Sangma in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today quoted the apex court judgement (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India, 2018) that states that Aadhaar is not mandatory as it violates Article 14 (Right to Equality), Article 19 (Right to Freedom), Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 244(2)and Paragraph 12A of the Sixth Schedule (exempting tribal areas from Aadhaar).
“In Meghalaya, government and officials are directly or indirectly forcing beneficiaries to obtain Aadhaar,” he said in the letter.
According to Sangma, the State has violated Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act whereby payments for 2022-23 to job car holders are withheld in all blocks due to lack of Aadhaar. He said school and college admissions, scholarships are denied without Aadhaar.
He said Aadhaar was made mandatory in LPG connections, opening of bank accounts, children’s benefits under ICDS as well as in the medical department for District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) and other departments, which violates the judgement.
While seeking exemption for the Sixth Schedule areas from Aadhaar requirement, Sangma suggested the centre to provide an alternative identification documents like job card and voted ID for accessing benefits, with seamless delivery of services without Aadhaar.
He urged the PM to direct concerned authorities to cease coercive Aadhaar implementation and to issue clarification on Aadhaar exemption in Sixth Schedule areas.
