The Supreme Court on March 24 ordered the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) not to share its biometric database with any agency without the consent of those who are on the database, television news reports said. Reportedly, the apex court also directed the withdrawal of all orders that make the 12-digit unique identity number Aadhaar, issued by the UIDAI, mandatory for services.
UIDAI had moved the apex court after the Goa High Court ordered it to share with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the biometric details of everyone who is enrolled in Goa. The high court order was aimed at helping investigations into a 14-month-old rape case in Goa that is yet to be solved, newspapers reported last week.