Aadhar Card – Perspectives on Privacy

Abstract

With an aim to issue unique identification number to its every individual and to avail them with different schemes like gas
subsidy, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) like benefits, Government of India
initiated the process of Aadhar. However it has come across some privacy issues from different strata of society. This
paper attempts to investigate the perspectives of people, legal and Government on leakage of privacy thereby trying to
conclude whether there is an infringement of the privacy as raised by some dignities. For identifying people perspectives,
150 respondents from different class group, gender category, different occupations, etc. were considered. After analyzing
people‘s perspective, it has been found that the population who are being asked to link their personal documents, identity
and information to their Aadhar Card are wary about the possible loss of privacy. They are aware of the advantages of ALP
to the Society. They are hence willing to join the ALP, and thus are ready to sacrifice their privacy. While according to the
legal perspective, successive judges in their judgments have dealt with different aspects of privacy with regards to Aadhar
and its linking. These judgments would help as a stepping stone for evolution of the idea of protection of privacy of the
people of this nation state, within the framework of a secured and socially justified environment attained because of ALP.
The third perspective that is of Government concluded that it argues that the fundamental right status does not make
privacy the absolute right and hence is superseded by other major concerns of the nation state viz national security of its
people, frauds and fake registrations.