Aadhaar Not Mandatory for Government Benefits, Rules Meghalaya High Court
Meghalaya High Court ruled Aadhaar is not mandatory for accessing govt schemes. Alternative IDs must be accepted for schemes like SC/ST student scholarships. Tripura’s Kabiray Debbarma called the Aadhaar ruling ineffective in filtering illegal migrants and renewed calls for NRC based on 1971 or 1951 data.
NETB24
In a significant ruling, the Meghalaya High Court has held that Aadhaar cannot be the sole identification document for accessing government benefits. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh directed the state administration to accept alternative forms of identification from individuals who are either unwilling or unable to produce an Aadhaar card.
The interim order was passed during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Greneth M Sangma, who challenged the Meghalaya government’s notification dated October 31, 2023. The notification mandated that SC/ST students must have an Aadhaar number to avail of Fee Compensation for Post-Matric Scholarships and financial aid for students not covered under other schemes.
The court referred to two key Supreme Court judgments on Aadhaar and observed that non-possession of Aadhaar cannot disqualify any citizen from accessing state benefits. The bench stated that individuals must be allowed to prove their identity using other recognized documents like PAN card, voter ID, passport, etc.
“While Aadhaar may help in speedy identification, it cannot be enforced as a mandatory requirement,” the bench noted, adding that the issue would be examined in greater detail when the PIL is heard again on August 12, 2025.
Tripura Political Reaction: NRC Demand Reignites
In response to the Meghalaya HC ruling, Kabiray Debbarma, a prominent voice from Tripura, reacted sharply. He asserted that in Tripura, most illegal immigrants (particularly Bangladeshi and Rohingya) have already managed to obtain pre-2014 documents recognized by the Election Commission of India (ECI). As a result, he warned that Aadhaar-based filtration would be ineffective.
“All fish escaped the net. Only NRC based on 1971, or ideally 1951, can truly deliver justice to the Tiprasa people,” said Debbarma.
“Special Intensive Revision (SIR) cannot be lawfully implemented retroactively to 1971 or 1951 due to prior voter list updates.”
He emphasized the need for a proper National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Tripura to address demographic imbalances and illegal immigration.
By Changkhonbi
