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Citizens’ biometric data collected by private firms without legal framework, SC told

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New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday was told that private agencies collected biometric data of the citizens under the Aadhaar scheme without any legal framework permitting it.

“There was no legal framework, none at all, backing the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) when it engaged private operators in the massive exercise of collecting citizens biometric data,” senior counsel Shyam Divan told the constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.

He also told the constitution bench, also comprising Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice A.K. Khanwilkar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan, that rule of law was denuded to such a level that there was no governance and private operators for enrolling citizens under Aadhaar scheme were appointed without any legal framework.

Divan wondered that the citizens biometric data was being collected by the private operators without legal safeguards and there was no accountability of the central government, citing the government’s statement in the parliament that 34,000 enrolment agencies were issuing fake cards and thereby polluting the whole exercise.

Divan is arguing before the constitution bench on behalf of the petitioner including former Karnataka High Court Judge Justice K.S. Puttuswamy who has contended that collection of biometric data was an intrusion into the personal autonomy of a person and thus violative of fundamental right to privacy.

Besdides Justice Puttuswamy, others including Magsaysay awardee Shanta Sinha and feminist researcher Kalyani Sen Menon too have moved the court challenging the Aadhaar Act.

When Justice Khanwilkar pointed out that the points being raised by him have been validated under the Aadhaar Act, Divan said: “What can be validated or what has been validated, we will see (in the course of the arguments).”

The constitution bench commenced, on January 17, the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the validity of Aadhaar Act on the touchstone of fundamental right to privacy. The hearings will continue on January 23.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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