According to the petition, over 21 lakh people whose names were added to the NRC through the final supplementary list dated August 31, 2019 are still waiting for their Aadhaar numbers.
On Monday, the Supreme Court of India issued notice to the Central government, the state of Assam, and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in response to an application by All India Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev for the issuance of Aadhaar cards to those who were included in the National Register of Citizens' final supplementary list (NRC).
A bench of Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat, and PS Narasimha asked the Centre, Assam, and the UIDAI to respond to the case.
Dev claims in her petition that nearly 21 lakh people whose names were added to the NRC via the final supplementary list dated August 31, 2019, are still waiting for their Aadhaar number because the NRC biometric data has been put on hold, citing the Union of India's statement of purpose/modalities for disposal of claims and objections.
As a result, these individuals are unable to take advantage of Aadhaar-based benefits.
"The State Government of Assam and the Union of India are denying access to the biometrics of individuals whose names have been incorporated in the supplementary list dated August 31, 2019 and are thus unable to access the benefits that would be available to them if they had an Aadhar Number," the petition stated.
It was said that not being able to obtain an Aadhar Number puts roughly 20 lakh individuals in peril since they will be unable to access state-sponsored initiatives, subsidies, and benefits because they require mandatory registration under the Aadhar regime.
"The lack of an Aadhar number creates significant barriers to obtaining education, applying for jobs, applying for PAN cards, ration cards, opening bank accounts, and so on, impairing such people's ability to exercise their right to livelihood, right to food, liberty, whether economic or political, self-determination, and autonomy," the plea stated.
As a result, state agencies' refusal to provide an aadhar number to such a person is in breach of Article 14 of the Constitution's principles.
"By treating persons whose names have been registered in the Supplementary list differently from persons whose names have been registered in the First NRC list, the State creates a class within a class," the petition argued.
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