September 26, 2018

Press Statement

The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) expresses its severe disappointment at the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court in the Aadhar related matters today.

The majority judgment read out by Justice Sikri has held that Aadhar is mandatory for availing facilities and entitlements under different government schemes. This would in effect mean that thousands of disabled persons would be continued to be denied pensions and benefits of other social security schemes.

Apart from other concerns, for the disabled enrollment itself has been a major problem. Biometrics has been an issue.Even though there are provisions in the Aadhaar framework to use just one biometric for those with disabilities — either the iris or the fingerprints — many centres and operators are either oblivious of this provision or are not adequately trained to handle this. There have been innumerable instances where the applicants get an acknowledgement but the authentication is rejected at the main server level.

Unfortunately, the majority judgment of the Supreme Court does not take these concerns into consideration.

(Muralidharan)

General Secretary
National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD)

36, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Lane

New Delhi 110 001

Tel. 11-23387674; 9868768543