In response to a PIL seeking stay on the implementation of the Unique Identification (UID)/Aadhaar Scheme, the Supreme Court said that enrolment under the scheme was completely voluntary and not necessary to avail essential government services.
The PIL was filed by retired Karnataka High Court judge, Justice KS Puttaswamy, who argued that it infringed on people’s fundamental rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty).
Many state governments had been trying to make the Aadhaar card compulsory for services such as gas connections, bank accounts and other such public services. The Maharashtra government had been trying to make the Aadhaar card mandatory for marriage registrations.