An exchange (slightly edited) on another e-group, which one may find relevant, is reproduced as under
A response from XXX: Aadhar is an open invitation to the government to spy. I have been asked by people whom I trust, and who are supporters of BJP, not to trust the telephone, email or any internet communication. They are all bugged. The citizens are aware of what is this government up to. Response from self: Three fundamental differences, in very brief, between the Aadhaar, on the one hand, and telephone, internet etc., on the other. 1. The latter is. at least notionally, "voluntary". The former is being made "mandatory" for a host of purposes - even writing exams or issue of death certificates, not just a limited number of social benefit schemes. (The following is extremely relevant here: A five-member constitution bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India in its order dated 15.10.2015, had reiterated all its previous orders. And, laid down: <<3. After hearing the learned Attorney General for India and other learned senior counsels, we are of the view that in paragraph 3 of the Order dated 11.08.2015, if we add, apart from the other two Schemes, namely, P.D.S. Scheme and the L.P.G. Distribution Scheme, the Schemes like The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Social Assistance Programme (Old Age Pensions, Widow Pensions, Disability Pensions) Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for the present, it would not dilute the earlier order passed by this Court. Therefore, we now include the aforesaid Schemes apart from the other two Schemes that this Court has permitted in its earlier order dated 11.08.2015. 4. We impress upon the Union of India that it shall strictly follow all the earlier orders passed by this Court commencing from 23.09.2013. 5. We will also make it clear that the Aadhaar card Scheme is purely voluntary and it cannot be made mandatory till the matter is finally decided by this Court one way or the other.>> (Ref.: P. 11-12 at < http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/jonew/ropor/rop/all/389939.pdf>.) So, as per the order of a five-judge constitution bench of the SC , which remains to be overturned by a larger bench as yet, the Aadhaar is purely voluntary, and that too restricted to a limited list of (six) social benefit schemes, cited above.) 2. The Aadhaar maintains a centralised database. ***At a single point***, an individual's name, address, biometrics, bank account details, mobile nos. and thereby mobile call details, details of credit card usages, train/plane ticket purchases and journey details etc. would be available. That makes the individual completely transparent, or naked, to the state - stripped of all privacy. And, thereby extremely vulnerable. 3. The state can at its whim deactivate the number without any notice, without any explanation. (A legal remedy, if at all any, is only to follow later.) The bank accounts become inoperative, so the credit cards. Nor one can purchase a railway or plain ticket even with cash. So on and on. Even the court would probably not recognise, and entertain, the aspiring litigant without an operative Aadhaar number. That's what Mr Prasanna (in the Mirror Channel programme) has referred to as "civil death". Sukla On 9 October 2017 at 12:12, Sukla Sen <[email protected]> wrote: > > [The very crux, arguably, was pretty much pithily laid out by one Mr. > Prasnna, a lawyer, at around 46 mins. > He puts it just upfront: "Honestly the biggestest security threat comes > from the government itself." Goes on to illustrate the spine-chilling > prospects a bit, including the notion of "civil death" - though he does not > talk of an individual's conduct being liable to be mapped in frightening > details, till 48.40 mins. > > Of course, there are other serious threats as well. > "Authorised" and "unauthorised" accessing of the Aadhaar database by > private parties for "licit" and "illicit" pecuniary gains. > But by far the most dangerous threat comes from the custodian itself. > Just do make no mistake. > > The BJP rep., rather fortunately, looked like a bumbling fool; who simply > doesn't have a clue what to say when asked whether it's actually mandatory > to link Aadhaar with one's bank account or mobile phone. > His stock answer, unfailingly in a high-pitched tone, to any whatever > query was that anyone raising a question about Aadhaar, whether a limited > one or a something more fundamental, is by all means an "ant-national", an > "apologist of (Islamist?) terrorists". > That's the only thing he had apparently been coached to blurt out at the > faintest hint of an opportunity. > > He'd have had cut a much sorrier figure but for the active backing of the > admirably even-toned anchor - a self-confessed backer of the Aadhaar. > > The Congress rep. - the only other person representing a political party, > btw, was fairly articulate; was allowed little time though. > > The way the BJP rep. went about hurling the charge of "anti-nationalism" > with gay abandon should itself be a matter of profound concern, given the > fact that this is the party which is at the helm right at this moment.] > > Centre's Aadhar Push I The Urban Debate WIth Faye D'Souza > > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=wgtbW033uk0&app=desktop>. > > Sukla > > -- > Peace Is Doable > > > -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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