Shillong, Apr 29: The Awaken India Movement (AIM), Meghalaya State Chapter today said it is concern by the recent remarks made by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong that citizens without Aadhaar cannot receive benefits from both central and state governments, stating is both misleading and legally untenable.
AIM said that the Supreme Court, in the landmark judgment of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India, reinforced that Aadhaar should not result in the exclusion of eligible citizens from benefits. The court explicitly stated that no genuine beneficiary shall be denied essential benefits solely due to the lack of Aadhaar, the organisation said.
Moreover, the Aadhaar Act of 2016 outlines that Aadhaar enrolment is voluntary, and individuals without an Aadhaar number must be provided with alternative means of identification, it said. Failure to uphold these provisions not only undermines statutory laws but also infringes on fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, such as the right to equality and the right to live with dignity, AIM added.
“Any statement suggesting that citizens without Aadhaar are not entitled to government benefits is in direct contradiction of statutory law, binding judicial precedents, and constitutional guarantees,” the organisation said and urged public authorities to act responsibly and uphold the rule of law.
