The petition filed by an NGO, Joint Forum Against NRC, alleged that the Aadhaar of several residents in West Bengal were suddenly deactivated without prior notice to them.
During an earlier hearing, the petitioner’s counsel Sneha Bera had argued that Regulation 28A was inserted by way of an amendment in 2023.
“This provision wasn’t there when the law was introduced in 2016. It was added in 2023. This very provision is problematic or rather is unconstitutional and is arbitrary. It gives unbridled powers to the authority to decide who is an Indian citizen and who not,” Bera argued.
The advocate further pointed out that the main aim of the Aadhaar scheme was to facilitate the smooth implementation of various welfare schemes for the citizens. However, now it is required for more, the lawyer noted.
“People can’t take birth or die without an Aadhaar Card as it is required for everything now. But suddenly deactivating the Aadhaar Card without prior notice is arbitrary,” Bera had argued.
Source: Barandbench
