Aadhaar conceived by UPA compatible with Right to Privacy: Chidambaram

New Delhi: Asserting that the Aadhaar, as conceived by the previous UPA Government was perfectly compatible with the Right to Privacy, senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the fault lay in this Government’s attempt to misuse it as a tool to curb the privacy of an individual. Talking to reporters here, Mr Chidambaram said,”the Aadhaar we conceived was perfectly compatible with the Right To Privacy. It was started with an objective to check leakages and duplication of subsidies meant to benefit people. It is the interpretation of this Government of the Article 21 of the Constitution which is an invasion of the Right To Privacy. In fact, this Government’s approach to Aadhaar is in total contrast to the approach by the UPA Government. There is no fault in the Aadhaar concept. There is fault in how this government plans to use or misuse Aadhaar as a tool.” The Supreme Court today overruled the MP Sharma (1962) and Kharak Singh (1954) judgements and held that the Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, in an unanimous decision (of the nine-judge bench). The verdict was given as soon as the nine-judge Constitution bench of the apex court resumed the hearing on the case today morning. Following this, a five-judge Constitutional Bench will decide whether the Aadhaar violates the Right to Privacy or not. (UNI)