The Aadhaar Card number is not a necessary document, but it is one of the nine identity proofs, either of which can be produced for registration on the CoWIN portal, to get vaccinated against Covid-19, the Centre told the Supreme Court.
According to the submission made by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before the Apex Court on Monday, documents like passport, driver’s licence, PAN card, voter’s identity card or ration card can also be produced for vaccination.
A Bench comprising Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant disposed of a plea filed by Siddharth Shankar Sharma, who had claimed that Aadhaar number was being mandatorily insisted upon for administering the vaccination via the CoWIN portal.
The Bench had sought the Union government’s response on October 1, 2021, over the PIL.
Following the court order, the MoHFW had filed an affidavit, which stated that Aadhaar card was not mandatory for registration on the CoWIN portal, but one among the nine documents, either of which could be produced for registration on CoWIN portal.
The affidavit further said that a provision has been made for other categories of persons, who may not have identity cards in their possession, such as prisoners and inmates at mental health institutions.