Law and Judiciary


Aadhaar- The Basis of an Indian

Article Number: ALO090993 Volume 01 | Issue 01 | January - 2019 ISSN: UA
07th Sep, 2018
10th Oct, 2018
13th Dec, 2018
15th Jan, 2019

Authors

Yogesh Chalisa

Abstract

From the origin in 2009, the Aadhaar project has been covered in argument because of the different questions are raised about the technological issues, privacy, welfare prohibiting, and security concerns. The project is ladled with serious lacunae and it lacks security of the personal identity information, openness in the working of the UIDAI, proper supervision, redress mechanisms and accountability. Legal framework is sketchy and not adequate. But on the other hand, succeeded in removing the bottlenecks from the government subsidy delivery chain, making of the passport, opening bank accounts, disbursing pensions, provident fund and thereby it saved a lot of money of the government. The World Bank is so impressed with the aadhaar that it recommended other countries to in the world to adopt it Countries like Bangladesh, Tanzania, Russia, Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria have conveyed concern in the system. Government asserted Supreme Court, by linking Aadhar to PAN card for removing the fake PAN card which are used for terror backing, drug financing, and exchange of black money that is almost all the major problems country is facing today. Now it becomes so ambitious that it is now not considered less than messiah. The aadhaar project has been depicted not only as a new face of development that technology could bring about but also as an identity technology that will open us all up to discrimination, prejudice, the risk of identity theft any subject the entire population of the country under continuous surveillance. There are reports claiming that the aadhar is saving over 1 billion dollar of the government. There are also reports that nearly 135 aadhaar numbers and some personal information has been disclosed. Therefore this project has both positive as well as negative aspect. This paper is intended to examine both these aspects and to reach at the conclusion with a suggestion how these problems can be solved. Key Words: Aadhaar- The Basis of an Indian

Introduction

With the aim of weeding out corruption and personification from government service and welfare supply chain, the aadhaar project was launched in 2009. Under this project, a random and unique number, which can singularly identify people, is generated using some biometric (fingerprint, photograph, scaning of iris etc.) and personal information (name, address, birth date etc.) of the people. National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 (hereinafter as the NIAI Bill) was came into existence in the Loksabha to give statutory back-up to the project. Standing Committee on Finance of the 15th Loksabha, however, rejected it and observed that “the scheme is ladled with serious lacunae and representation of legislature of a data security and confidentiality is an essential for the Aadhaar system.” But the project was continued to be executed without any legislation. A new bill, Aadhaar (Directed Transfer of Financial and Other Grants, Welfares and Facilities) Bill, 2016 (after Aadhaar Act, 2016) finally get passed. But this bill got criticized for not accepting five recommendation of Rajya Sabha, for absence of any opt-out option, for no effective and comprehensive provisions pertaining to cybersecurity of Aadhaar, for no safeguards for the privacy of the personal identity information, for no limitation over-collection of information for the registration under the scheme, for disclosure of the personal information by the requesting agency under section 8, for disclosure of the aadhaar information, for undefined national security under section 33, for no prescription of data-breach notification, for striping legitimate citizens of their right to report criminal activities and breaches concerning

References

 A proposition developed by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany in a ruling relating to personal information collected during that country’s 1983 census.

Jeanette Rodrigues, Aadhaar wins, World Bank praise amid ‘big brother’ fears, Live Mint (Mar 16, 2017, 08:30 IST), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Y0WwNHySlbDKDFMMvw57nM/Aadhaar-wins-World-Bank-praise-amid-big-brother-fears.html.

World Bank thinks Aadhaar System in India is very effective and should be adopted by all nations (Mar. 17, 2017), https://yourstory.com/2017/03/aadhaar-system-world-bank/.

Other than stopping people from wearing a helmet in their hands, Aahaar can fix every other problem: Govt to SC (May 07, 2017), http://www.fakingnews.firstpost.com/india/stopping-people-wearing-helmet-hands-aadhaar-govt-sc-20776.

Jeanette Rodrigues, Aadhaar wins, World Bank praise amid ‘big brother’ fears, Live Mint (Mar 16, 2017, 08:30 IST), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Y0WwNHySlbDKDFMMvw57nM/Aadhaar-wins-World-Bank-praise-amid-big-brother-fears.html.

World Bank thinks Aadhaar System in India is very effective and should be adopted by all nations (Mar. 17, 2017), https://yourstory.com/2017/03/aadhaar-system-world-bank/.

Other than stopping people from wearing a helmet in their hands, Aahaar can fix every other problem: Govt to SC (May 07, 2017), http://www.fakingnews.firstpost.com/india/stopping-people-wearing-helmet-hands-aadhaar-govt-sc-20776.

Linking Aadhaar to ration cards saved Rs 14000 crore: Ram Vilas Paswan, The Economic Times (May 04, 2017, 10:12 PM IST), retrieved from http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/linking-aadhaar-to-ration-cards-saved-rs-14-000-cr-ram-vilas-paswan-117050401349_1.html

NPCI. Frequently Asked Questions By Banks for Aadhaar Enabled Payment System, National Payments Corporation of India, http://www.npci.org.in/documents/AEPSFAQBank.pdf.

Information security practices of aadhaar or lack thereof a documentation of the public availability of aadhaar numbers with sensitive personal financial information (May 01. 2017), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/information-security-practices-of-aadhaar-or-lack-thereof-a-documentation-of-public-availability-of-aadhaar-numbers-with-sensitive-personal-financial-information-1

Jean Dreze, Hello aadhaar goodbye privacy (Mar. 24, 2017), https://thewire.in/118655/hello-aadhaar-goodbye-privacy/

Usha Ramanathan, Who Owns the UID Database? Medianama (May 6, 2013), http://www.medianama.com/2013/05/223-who-owns-the-uid-database-usha-ramanathan/.

PRS India. (n.d.). The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, PRS India (Jan. 09, 2009), http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/vikas_doc/docs/1241607771~~The%20Collection%20Of%20Statistics%20Act,%202008.pdf.

Rohith Jyothish, Aadhaar vs security: is the biometric system a tool for surveillance? (May 6, 2017, 12:27 PM), http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/aadhaar-vs-security-is-the-biometric-system-a-tool-for-surveillance-117050600183_1.html

Govt may have made 135 million Aadhaar numbers public: CIS report (May 02, 2017, 04:43 AM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/oj7ky556p6vdljXpRw8gPP/135-million-Aadhaar-numbers-made-public-by-government-author.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=news_rec

Information security practices of aadhaar or lack thereof a documentation of the public availability of aadhaar numbers with sensitive personal financial information (May 01. 2017), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/information-security-practices-of-aadhaar-or-lack-thereof-a-documentation-of-public-availability-of-aadhaar-numbers-with-sensitive-personal-financial-information-1

Asheeta Regidi, GOI directs removal of Aadhaar info published online, what the law says and what to do if your find your data online first post (Mar. 30 2017, 07:21 PM IST), http://www.firstpost.com/india/goi-directs-removal-of-aadhaar-info-published-online-what-the-law-says-and-what-to-do-if-you-find-your-data-online-3360372.html.

Ibid.

Gordon, P. Data Leakage - Threats and Mitigation, 2007, October 15, https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/awareness/data-leakage-threats-mitigation-1931.

Social engineering fraud, from Interpol: https://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Financial-crime/Social-engineering-fraud/Types-of-social-engineering-fraud.

Information security practices of aadhaar or lack thereof a documentation of the public availability of aadhaar numbers with sensitive personal financial information (May 01. 2017), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/information-security-practices-of-aadhaar-or-lack-thereof-a-documentation-of-public-availability-of-aadhaar-numbers-with-sensitive-personal-financial-information-1.

Reddy, L. V. Hyderabad: Note cheats use Aadhaar card copies, Deccan Chronicle (Nov. 17, 2016), http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/171116/hyderabad-note-cheats-use-aadhaar-card-copies.html.

Singh, S. R. RJio SIM cards being sold on the black market in Delhi, Business Line (Sep. 22, 2016), http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/rjio-sim-cards-being-sold-in-the-black-market-in-delhi/article9136775.ece.

PTI. Govt asserts no poor will be deprived by making Aadhaar mandatory, Hindustan Times (April 10, 2017), http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-asserts-no-poor-will-be-deprived-by-making-aadhaar-mandatory/story-G2OBbLDaGFuYISwUqHJ8pL.html.

Agrawal, S., Banerjee, S., & Sharma, S. (n.d.). Privacy and Security of Aadhaar: A Computer Science Perspective, from IIT Madras, http://www.cse.iitm.ac.in/~shwetaag/papers/aadhaar.pdf.

The Identity Project, London School of Economics, http://www.lse.ac.uk/management/research/identityproject/identityreport.pdf.

Joe C Mathew, Aadhaar must up security measures to ward off financial frauds, says the report, Business Today (May 11, 2017, 04:01 PM IST), http://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/aadhaar-must-up-security-measures-to-ward-off-financial-frauds-says-report/story/251403.html.

Menon, S. Are the terms and conditions of BHIM-Aadhaar anti-consumer or simply anti-interpretation?, Newslaundry (April 20, 2017), https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/04/20/are-the-terms-and-conditions-of-bhim-aadhaar-anti-consumer-or-simply-anti-interpretation.

Information security practices of aadhaar or lack thereof a documentation of the public availability of aadhaar numbers with sensitive personal financial information (May 01. 2017), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/information-security-practices-of-aadhaar-or-lack-thereof-a-documentation-of-public-availability-of-aadhaar-numbers-with-sensitive-personal-financial-information-1

A proposition developed by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany in a ruling relating to personal information collected during that country’s 1983 census.

Advocate Shyam Divan makes a case against govt rulemaking Aadhaar must file tax returns, Live Mint (Apr. 29, 2017, 12:29 AM), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/snjp639veqmeanRxdjE22J/Advocate-Shyam-Divan-makes-case-against-govt-rule-making-Aad.html.

Shyam Divan concludes arguments in Aadhaar case in Supreme Court, Live Mint (Apr. 28, 2017, 04:15 PM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/sN0S5mYYx641tgrctGf03H/Shyam-Divan-concludes-arguments-in-Aadhaar-case-in-Supreme-C.html.

PTI, Alive to early orders that aadhaar should be voluntary, The New Indian Express (Apr. 28, 2017, 02:23 AM IST), http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/apr/28/alive-to-earlier-orders-that-aadhaar-should-be-voluntary-sc-1598687.html.

Live Law, Why Is Aadhaar card mandatory for availing of Minority Student's Scholarships: Delhi HC asks Centre, Live Law (Sept. 7, 2016, 05: 41), http://www.livelaw.in/aadhar-card-mandatory-availing-minority-students-scholarships-delhi-hc-asks-centre/.

PTI, Govt can not belittle Supreme Court order holding Aadhaar voluntary, Business Standard (May 05, 2017, 12:30 AM IST), http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-cannot-belittle-supreme-court-order-holding-aadhaar-voluntary-117050401110_1.html.

The Wire Analysis, As arguments on Aadhaar- Income Tax link end, the court may read down the mandatory provision, The Wire (May 05, 2017), https://thewire.in/132141/aadhaar-pan-supreme-court-income-tax/.

Agencies, Linking Aadhaar to PAN contravenes Income Tax Act: Advocate Divan (Apr. 28, 2017), http://www.mid-day.com/articles/national-news-linking-aadhaar-to-pan-contravenes-income-tax-act-advocate-divan/18205169.

Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, Section 5.

Indian Telegraph Rule, 2007,Section 419A.

The Indian Express, Stop Aadhaar data use to probe crime: UIDAI to SC, The Indian Express (Mar. 19, 2014, 12:50 IST), http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/stop-aadhaar-data-use-to-probe-crime-uidai-to-sc/.

Anil Padmanabhan, Aadhaar: in the eye of the privacy storm, Live Mint (Apr. 10, 2017, 03: 50 AM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/AF15Svbru1pCvHwV8AYDPP/Aadhaar-In-the-eye-of-the-privacy-storm.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=news_rec.

Jean Dreze, Hello aadhaar goodbye privacy (Mar. 24, 2017), https://thewire.in/118655/hello-aadhaar-goodbye-privacy/

5 changes Rajya Sabha wanted in Aadhaar Bill, Rediff Business (Mar. 17, 2016, 02:06 PM IST), http://www.rediff.com/business/report/changes-rajya-sabha-wanted-in-aadhaar-bill/20160317.htm.

Section 6 of the Income Tax Act says defines A resident is defined as any person who has resided in India for a period of at least 182 days in the previous 12 months.

Information security practices of aadhaar or lack thereof a documentation of the public availability of aadhaar numbers with sensitive personal financial information (May 01. 2017), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/information-security-practices-of-aadhaar-or-lack-thereof-a-documentation-of-public-availability-of-aadhaar-numbers-with-sensitive-personal-financial-information-1

Anumeha Yadav, Rajasthan presses on with Aadhaar after fingerprints readers fail: We’ll buy iris scanners (Apr. 10, 2016, 09:00 AM IST), https://scroll.in/article/806243/rajasthan-presses-on-with-aadhaar-after-fingerprint-readers-fail-well-buy-iris-scanners.

Vrinda Bhandari and Renuka Sane, Analysing the Information Technology Act (2000) from the viewpoint of protection of privacy (Mar. 18, 2016), https://ajayshahblog.blogspot.nl/2016/03/analysing-information-technology-act.html.

Section 23(2) (s) of the Aadhaar Act.

Amber Sinha, Sandro Chattapadhayay, Sunil Abraham and Vanya Rakesh, List of Recommendation on the Aadhaar Bill, 2016- Letter Submitted to the Members of Parliament (Mar. 16, 2016), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/list-of-recommendations-on-the-aadhaar-bill-2016.

Anumeha Yadav, The government has introduced a bill on Aadhaar and it is not good news (Mar. 05, 2016, 10:30 AM IST), https://scroll.in/article/804577/the-government-has-introduced-a-bill-on-aadhaar-and-it-is-not-good-news.

Available at https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1414109/.

Soibam Rocky Singh, India’s only cyber appellate tribunal defunct since 2011, Hindustan Times (Jun 29, 2017, 11:37 IST), http://www.hindusta%3Ctimes.com/india/india-s-only-cyber-appellate-tribunal-defunct-since-2011/story-208HGrEN7hXrABg7lAb69N.html.

http://catindia.gov.in/judgement.aspx

Anumeha Yadav, Seven reasons why Parliament should debate the Aadhaar bill (and not pass in a rush (Mar. 11, 2016, 09:15 AM), https://scroll.in/article/804922/seven-reasons-why-parliament-should-debate-the-aadhaar-bill-and-not-pass-it-in-a-rush.

PRS Legislative Research, Nine issues to debate on aadhaar Bill (Mar. 11, 2016, 01:39 PM IST), http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nine-issues-to-debate-on-aadhaar-bill/article8341611.ece.

Amber Sinha, Sumandro Chattapadhayay, Sunil Abraham and Vanya Rakesh, List of Recommendation on the Aadhaar Bill, 2016- Letter Submitted to the Members of Parliament (Mar. 16, 2016), http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/list-of-recommendations-on-the-aadhaar-bill-2016.

Prerna Kapoor, Remya Nair and Elizabeth Roche, Aadhaar fails MGNREGS test in Telangana (Apr. 07, 2017, 12:36 AM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Uf5B33ZB2sYKpmLqwMke8O/Aadhaar-fails-MGNREGS-test-in-Telangana.html.

Anil Padmanbham, Aadhaar in the eye of the privacy storm (Apr. 10, 2017, 03:50 AM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/AF15Svbru1pCvHwV8AYDPP/Aadhaar-In-the-eye-of-the-privacy-storm.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=news_rec.

Vrinda Bhandari and Renuka Sane, Analysing the Information Technology Act (2000) from the viewpoint of protecting privacy (Mar. 18, 2016, 12:19 PM IST), https://ajayshahblog.blogspot.nl/2016/03/analysing-information-technology-act.html.

Anil Padmanabhan, Aadhaar: in the eye of the privacy storm, Live Mint (Apr. 10, 2017, 03: 50 AM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/AF15Svbru1pCvHwV8AYDPP/Aadhaar-In-the-eye-of-the-privacy-storm.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=news_rec.

Apurva Vishwanath, Govt defends to link PAN with Aadhaar in Supreme Court, Live Mint (May 02, 2017, 01:49 PM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Politics/k5RPTacEjeUEyLPidgIvtO/Govt-defends-decision-to-link-PAN-with-Aadhaar-in-Supreme-Co.html.

Anil Padmanabhan, Aadhaar: in the eye of the privacy storm, Live Mint (Apr. 10, 2017, 03: 50 AM IST), http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/AF15Svbru1pCvHwV8AYDPP/Aadhaar-In-the-eye-of-the-privacy-storm.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=news_rec. 

How to cite this article?

APA StyleChalisa, Y. (2019). Aadhaar- The Basis of an Indian. Academic Journal of Law and Judiciary, 1(1), 25-42.
Chicago Style
MLA Style
DOI
URL

Create Your Password

We've sent a link to create password on your registered email, Click the link in email to start using Xournal.

Sign In

Forgot Password?
Don't have an account? Create Account

Create Account

Already have an account? Sign In

Forgot Password

Do you want to try again? Sign In

Publication Tracking