New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed a bill to allow voluntary use of the unique identity data “AADHAR” on Thursday. Public can use AADHAR to authenticate their identity using bio-metrics for opening bank accounts and procuring mobile phone connections.

    Information Technology Minister Ravi Shaker Prasad assured the house that the AADHAR is voluntary and informed that the consent of the bio-metrics identity holder has to be obtained before it was used. All safe guards are in place to prohibit misuse of AADHAR bio-metrics. The Minister said that Iris and fingerprint data is stored in Indian Machinery and it is safe and secure. The AADHAR and other laws (Amendment) bill 2019 which was passed by a voice of vote on Thursday. The bill would release curbs imposed by a Supreme Court order on the use of AADHAR based bio-metrics authentication by private entities.

   The amendment bill provides that no service are benefit of any scheme will denied for lack of AADHAR, the amendment bill also provide for a strict Rs.One crore penalty and a jail term for private entities for storing AADHAR data.

   The bill also gives an option to children to exit from the bio-metric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age, while stipulating stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use of AADHAR and violation of privacy.

   Opposing the bill, Adhir Ranjan Choudary, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said the Government used the ordinance route to bring in the legislation. He said that the ordinance was issued by the last Government (from 2014-19) and the current Government has brought it as a legislation.

      The Government is “restoring to the ordinance route without any rhyme and reason”. Participating in the debate, NCP MP Supriya Sule said, “You are cheating common man… what privacy we are talking about? Why is it? What is voter card then? We all have voter ID,” she said.