New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Manipur government to take steps to ensure that Aadhaar cards are provided to the displaced whose records are already available with the identification authority.
The apex court’s directions came while it was considering the reports filed by the apex court-appointed all-woman committee of former high court judges, headed by Justice (retd) Gita Mittal and including Justices (retd) Shalini P Joshi and Asha Menon.
Thousands of people have been displaced ever since ethnic clashes erupted between the Meiteis and Kukis on May 3. The violence continues despite the heavy deployment of security forces.
The SC said it does not propose to run the administration in Manipur and necessary verifications shall be carried out before issuing the Aadhaar cards expeditiously.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, said that UIDAI, which would have the biometric details of people to whom Aadhaar cards were already issued, will match the claims of those displaced about the loss of their cards.
The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, directed the Finance Secretary of Manipur to issue appropriate instructions to all banks in the affected parts of the state to make available the details of bank accounts to those who have lost the documents.
The bench further said that Manipur’s Health Secretary shall take all expeditious steps for issuing disability certificates/duplicates of disability certificates to specially-abled persons in the relief camps.
The bench observed that for issuing Aadhaar cards, the authority will have to verify whether these are genuine residents or citizens. “What if somebody is an illegal entrant? We will say the authorities will verify whether the person is genuine.”
Appearing for the Centre and the Manipur government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said several of these issues can be sorted out if the committee discuss them with the authorities
