Lok Sabha Question No. 1788 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Mandatory Linking of Aadhaar
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1788

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 26.07.2017

## MANDATORY LINKING OF AADHAAR

## 1788. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether the generation/issuance of Aadhaar cards including its legal validity has been questioned;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof, and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c)   whether the Supreme Court has issued any directions to the Government that Aadhaar cards may be made mandatory for getting  benefits  under  various  social  welfare  schemes  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the remedial measures taken/ being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d)     the details of the number of Aadhaar cards generated/issued and delivered in the country and the funds incurred thereon, State/Union Territory wise; and
- (e)    whether instances of non-delivery/ delay in delivery/postal loss of Aadhaar cards has come to the notice of the Government and if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): Yes, Sir.
- (b): W.P (C) No. 494 of 2012 and other tagged matters in the Hon'ble Supreme Court, have inter-alia challenged the validity of UID (Unique Identification) Scheme and the subsequent Aadhaar Act, 2016.

In the Counter Affidavit filed by Union of India in the Hon'ble Supreme Court, it has been stated that the governing law holding the field from 23.09.2013 i.e. date of first interim order in W.P.(C) 494 of 2012 & connected cases, up to 11.09.2016 (i.e. the date immediately prior to relevant provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 coming into force) were the interim orders of  Hon'ble Supreme Court and from 12.09.2016 (i.e. the date of coming into force of the Aadhaar Act, 2016), it is the Aadhaar Act, 2016.

- (c) : No, Sir.
- (d): A total  of  about  116.09  Crore  Aadhaar  have  been  generated  upto  21.07.2017,  out  of  which about 115.15 Crore have been dispatched. The number of Aadhaar generated State/Union Territory-wise is Annexed.

The  total  expenditure  of  UIDAI  (Unique  Identification  Authority  of  India)  since  2009-10  to  2017-18 (upto 18 th July, 2017) is Rs. 9055.73 Crore which includes an expenditure of Rs. 3819.97 Crore towards enrolment cost and Rs. 1171.45 Crore towards logistics cost (printing and dispatch of Aadhaar letters). State/Union Territories wise data on expenditure is not being maintained by the UIDAI.

- (e): UIDAI  communicates  Aadhaar  number  (UID)  to  resident  in  both  physical  and  electronic forms.  UIDAI has a facility  of  downloading  e-Aadhaar (electronic  form  of  Aadhaar  letter) as  soon as Aadhaar number is successfully generated. This has facilitated UIDAI with fast & quick communication of Aadhaar numbers.

UIDAI receives grievances related to non-receipt of Aadhaar letters in Aadhaar Contact Centre/Grievance Portal/through emails. UIDAI has set up an internal mechanism to resolve   grievances relating to  non-receipt of Aadhaar letters by way of reprinting and resending these letters.

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