National
Possibility of misuse cannot lead to terming Aadhar unconstitutional: SC
New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked that mere possibility of misuse cannot be the reason to declare the Aadhar law unconstitutional, after senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the information provided to the government can be prospectively misused.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the possibility of misuse is no ground to declare a law unconstitutional and for the court to strike down a law, petitioners have to establish that it is arbitrary.
Commencing his arguments on pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar scheme, Sibal argued before the five judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, that personal data is already out in the public domain.
“Once a genie is out of the bottle, it cannot be put back…,” he said, adding that the whole procedure is wrong as there is no check in taking Aadhaar details.
The constitution bench is hearing challenges to the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme on the touchstone of the fundamental right to privacy on a batch of petitions by former Karnataka High Court Judge K.S. Puttuswamy, Magsaysay awardee Shanta Sinha, feminist researcher Kalyani Sen Menon and others.
The government is creating a “monolith, a system with no choices,” Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners, argued, saying it was collecting data to destroy a person’s choice.
“Identity is a matter of proof but when we want to state our identity, the State says we can do it only in one particular way.
“The State tells me that in order to get a certain service I am entitled to, I have to get Aadhaar. It says I have no other choice. If I am a widow, Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community member, my caste certificate or my ration card or BPL card will not establish my identity. Only an Aadhaar card will do…,” he said.
“My status gives me the right to my entitlement. My identity has nothing to do with my entitlement. So how can there be a condition in law to deny me my rightful entitlement because my identity cannot be established except by Aadhaar? Is this procedurally and substantively reasonable? he asked.
Sibal further told the court that Aadhaar is nothing but “right to Information for the state” and that “information is power and if the power is given to state, it will use it like never before”.
Aadhaar can’t identify whether a person is a terrorist or a money launderer unless you have information of the crime, he said, adding that there is no technology in the world which has not been misused.
“The same technology can benefit mankind, the same can destroy it,” Sibal added.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
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.