The Supreme Court (SC) came down hard on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for filing a plea against the Centre’s move to make Aadhaar mandatory for availing the benefits of various social welfare schemes, officials said.
Wondering how a state could challenge a law passed by Parliament, the apex court asked Banerjee to move the court in individual capacity and not as the CM of a state.
“We know it is a matter which needs consideration but in a federal structure, how can a state file plea challenging Parliament’s mandate,” the SC asked the state government.
The plea, filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief on October 27 came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan.
On October 25, the Centre had told the top court that the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of various government schemes has been extended till March 31 next year for those who do not have the 12-digit biometric identification number.
Banerjee had opposed the central government’s move to make linking of mobile number to Aadhaar card mandatory and said she will not provide her Aadhaar number to the telecom operator even if her connection was barred.
Terming the move a breach of people’s right to privacy, Banerjee said the central government was trying to intrude into people’s personal life and curb their freedom.
The Department of Telecommunications in March this year directed all mobile phone service providers to re-verify existing customers, prepaid and postpaid, using their unique Aadhaar identity number and biometric details.
Wondering how a state could challenge a law passed by Parliament, the apex court asked Banerjee to move the court in individual capacity and not as the CM of a state.
“We know it is a matter which needs consideration but in a federal structure, how can a state file plea challenging Parliament’s mandate,” the SC asked the state government.
The plea, filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief on October 27 came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan.
On October 25, the Centre had told the top court that the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of various government schemes has been extended till March 31 next year for those who do not have the 12-digit biometric identification number.
Banerjee had opposed the central government’s move to make linking of mobile number to Aadhaar card mandatory and said she will not provide her Aadhaar number to the telecom operator even if her connection was barred.
Terming the move a breach of people’s right to privacy, Banerjee said the central government was trying to intrude into people’s personal life and curb their freedom.
The Department of Telecommunications in March this year directed all mobile phone service providers to re-verify existing customers, prepaid and postpaid, using their unique Aadhaar identity number and biometric details.