On Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused to pass an interim order on the government’s notification of making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits of various social welfare schemes.
A vacation bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Navin Sinha said no interim order can be passed right now on the “mere apprehension” of petitioners that government may deprive people from availing benefits of various social welfare schemes due to lack of Aadhaar.
“No interim order can be passed in mandamus on mere apprehensions. You have to wait for one week. If somebody is deprived (of the benefits) you can point out the same to this court,” the bench told counsel for the petitioners Shyam Divan. Further hearing of the matter will take place on July 7.
Divan had told the court that the government should be directed not to deprive any person of the benefits of social welfare schemes which he/she is enjoying now because of the lack of Aadhar.
The June 30 deadline has now been extended to September 30 for those who are availing benefits of social welfare schemes but don’t have an Aadhaar number as yet. The court referred to its June 9 verdict and said no further observation is needed in the matter pending before it.
