Aadhaar row: SC assures decision by tomorrow on larger bench plea<br/><br/>The Supreme Court today assured the Centre and bodies like SEBI and RBI that it will take a decision by tomorrow evening on their plea seeking setting up a larger bench for modifying an earlier order restricting the voluntary use of Aadhaar card to PDS and LPG schemes only. <br/><br/>The apex court had yesterday refused to modify its interim order and allow bodies like RBI and SEBI and some states to permit voluntary use of Aadhaar card for welfare schemes other than the public distribution system (PDS) and LPG schemes.<br/><br/>The court had made it clear that all applications seeking "modification, clarification and relaxation" of its August 11 interim order will be heard by a Constitution Bench. On August 11, the apex court had said that Aadhaar card will remain optional for availing welfare schemes of the government and the authorities will not use it for the purposes other than PDS and LPG distribution system.<br/><br/>The Centre, RBI, SEBI, IRDA, TRAI, Pension Fund Regulatory Authority and states like Gujarat and Jharkhand had recently moved the court and pitched strongly for voluntary use of Aadhaar cards for providing benefits of various schemes, other than PDS and LPG, at the doorstep of the aged people and the weaker sections.

Centre today sought setting up of a larger bench for modification of a Supreme Court order restricting use of Aadhaar card for PDS and LPG schemes only. Besides Centre, RBI, SEBI and some states sought relaxation in SC's order and permission to use Aadhaar in other welfare schemes also.<br/><br/>Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu assured a decision by tomorrow evening on the issue. In a jolt to the Centre, the Supreme Court yesterday refused to modify its interim order and allow bodies like RBI and SEBI and some states to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar card for welfare schemes other than the public distribution system (PDS) and LPG schemes.<br/><br/>A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar, which had already referred the batch of pleas challenging the Aadhaar scheme on the question of right to privacy, made it clear that all applications seeking "modification, clarification and relaxation" of its August 11 interim order will be heard by the constitution bench itself.<br/><br/>On August 11, the apex court had said that Aadhaar card will remain optional for availing welfare schemes of the government and the authorities will not use it for the purposes other than PDS and LPG distribution system. <br/><br/>The Centre, RBI, SEBI, IRDA, TRAI, Pension Fund Regulatory Authority and states like Gujarat and Jharkhand had recently moved the court and pitched strongly for voluntary use of Aadhaar cards for providing benefits of various schemes, other than PDS and LPG, at the doorsteps of the aged and the weaker sections.