The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of a plea seeking restrictions on the use of Aadhaar, the unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana issued a notice to the Centre and other relevant authorities on Wednesday, June 16, 2026. The plea was filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who has been a vocal critic of the expanding use of Aadhaar in various government and private services.
Tagged with Pending Matters
The bench directed that the petition be tagged with other similar matters already pending before the court. This indicates that the Supreme Court intends to examine the broader legal and constitutional questions surrounding Aadhaar's mandatory usage. The plea argues that the mandatory linking of Aadhaar for services such as banking, mobile connections, and welfare schemes violates the right to privacy and other fundamental rights.
Arguments by the Petitioner
Advocate Upadhyay, in his petition, contended that the government has overstepped its authority by making Aadhaar compulsory for a wide range of services without adequate legal safeguards. He emphasized that the Supreme Court's earlier judgment in the Puttaswamy case (2017) recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right, and subsequent rulings have limited the mandatory use of Aadhaar. The petitioner sought directions to restrict Aadhaar's use to only those purposes explicitly authorized by law.
Government's Stance
The Centre has not yet filed a formal response, but it is expected to defend the Aadhaar framework, citing its role in streamlining welfare delivery, reducing leakages, and promoting digital governance. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has consistently maintained that Aadhaar is a robust and secure system with adequate data protection measures.
Background and Previous Rulings
The Supreme Court has previously delivered mixed verdicts on Aadhaar. In 2018, a five-judge constitution bench upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar but struck down certain provisions, such as mandatory linking for bank accounts and mobile connections. However, the government later reintroduced some requirements through amendments. The current plea seeks to address these loopholes and ensure that Aadhaar is not used as a tool for surveillance or exclusion.
The case is expected to be heard in the coming weeks, with the court likely to examine the scope of Aadhaar's mandatory usage and its impact on citizens' rights. The outcome could have significant implications for India's digital identity ecosystem.
