The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill have been passed from the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Lok Sabha had on July 4 passed the Bill, with a voice vote, which seeks to amend the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Earlier today, the IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad moved the house to introduce the bill after opposition MPs D Raja, Binoy Viswam, Elmakaram Kareem and T Subbarammi Reddy argued against the March 2019 Aadhaar ordinance.

A bill to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as proof of identity for opening bank accounts and getting mobile connections was moved in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which is intended to replace an ordinance issued in March 2019, has already been passed by Lok Sabha last week.

Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad moved the Bill for consideration and passage in the Upper House. He assured the House that use of Aadhaar is voluntary and informed consent of the biometric identity holder has to be obtained before it is used.

The minister clarified that the Supreme Court has clearly stated that Aadhaar subserved the legitimate aim, it does not violate the principle of privacy, and is clearly needed for disbursal of subsidies and saving the entire misuse of those provisions.  He said once a child becomes an adult, he/she has the right to withdraw or give fresh consent for obtaining Aadhaar.

The amendments provide for use of Aadhaar number for KYC authentication on voluntary basis under the Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.   Put simply, this means it will allow voluntary use of Aadhaar number for authentication and identity proof in opening bank accounts and procuring mobile phone connections.

It also gives option to children to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age, while stipulating stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy.

Source: India News Nation