"In the final hearings on the Aadhaar project in the Supreme Court, the Attorney General's main (perhaps only) line of defence is that the court must 'balance' the right to life of millions, which he claims is guaranteed by Aadhaar, with the right to privacy." 2/6
Says even were to grant (for the sake of argument) that Aadhaar enables in delivering welfare and admit that a trade-off b/w right to life and right to privacy exists in the case of Aaadhaar, J Chandrachud's privacy judgement was a resounding rejection of such a proposition. 3/6
About right to privacy being an elitist concern, J Chandrachud says, "The submission that the right to privacy is an elitist construct which stands apart from the needs and aspirations of the large majority constituting the rest of society, is unsustainable." 4/6
In fact, the right to privacy is of greatest value to ordinary citizens, as it plays a key role in enabling informed choices. Voting decisions and attempts at fixing accountability, will be compromised if they do not remain impervious to the government's all-seeing glare. 5/6
Justice Chandrachud's judgment clearly states that the "dignity of the individual" is among the "foundational pillars of the Indian Constitution". Pensions provide dignity to the elderly.
"Integrating welfare delivery with Aadhaar is the antithesis of a life with dignity." 6/6
"Integrating welfare delivery with Aadhaar is the antithesis of a life with dignity." 6/6
