Delhi High Court issues notices over mandatory Aadhaar authentication for 3.16 crore consumers
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Fundamental rights, DPSP & duties· Prelims + Mains·
Privacy vs. Digital Identity: a key GS2 case study on judicial review and data protection.
Why in news
The Delhi High Court issued notices to the Centre and oil companies over a PIL challenging the mandatory biometric Aadhaar authentication for 3.16 crore consumers.
Background
The Delhi High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma is hearing a PIL filed by Pulkit Luthra. The petition challenges the requirement of biometric Aadhaar authentication for 3.16 crore consumers by oil companies.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyDelhi High Court: Judicial body overseeing the petition regarding Aadhaar authentication.
- Fact3.16 crore: The number of consumers affected by the mandatory Aadhaar authentication policy.
- PostAttorney General R. Venkataramani: Represented the Centre's defense of the policy.
- BodyPetroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board: One of the bodies issued notices by the court.
Prelims practice question
Which body was issued a notice by the Delhi High Court regarding the Aadhaar authentication policy?
- (a)Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
- (b)Reserve Bank of India
- (c)Securities and Exchange Board of India
- (d)Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Show answer
Answer: (a) Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board — The note identifies the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board as one of the bodies issued notices by the court.
For Mains
Q. Examine the conflict between the state's objective of digital identity verification and the individual's right to privacy and data protection.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Privacy-Security Trade-off: Balancing the state's need for subsidy leak-proof mechanisms against the risk of biometric data breaches.
- Digital Exclusion: Potential marginalization of rural and elderly populations lacking access to biometric-enabled devices.
- Data Sovereignty: Concerns over the centralized storage and unauthorized access to sensitive biometric data of millions.
Keywords: Right to Privacy · Data Protection · Digital Inclusion · Biometric Authentication · Judicial Review
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