New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday made it clear to the Centre that no person should be denied social security benefits for non-possession of Aadhaar card and the benefits should continue to be extended to them on he basis of other forms of identity. A five-judge Constitution bench made this oral observation to the Attorney General K.K. Venugopal after senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners complained that social security benefits are being denied to those who did not possess Aadhaar.
The AG said the government had already extended till March 31 for possession of Aadhaar and had made it clear that no one would be denied the benefits. Mr Sibal quoted a news report that people below the poverty line without Aadhaar are denied basic needs such as food and adequate nutrition; mid-day meals in school; pension etc. He wanted the court to pass an interim order to ensure that such benefits are not denied to them.
