Consider PIL seeking to share 'Aadhar' data with Election Commission: High Court to government

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today asked the union government and the Election Commission of India to consider a PIL seeking to share data collected during the process of issuance of Aadhar cards with the EC which can subsequently use it to register voters.

The PIL filed by NGO 'Matoshri Health Trust' sought a direction to the government to share the data it has collected from people across the country while issuing Aadhar cards with the Election Commission of India which in turn can use it for registering voters automatically.

"Over 60 crore persons have applied for Aadhar cards as per RTI information. The government can share this data with the Election Commission," petitioner's advocate Jamshed Mistry said.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha was, however, skeptical and said "there are already certain objections raised that the details collected from people for issuance of Aadhar cards are personal and should not be disclosed. If this data is shared with the Election Commission, then chances of political parties have access to it."

Advocate Rajeev Chavan, appearing for the union government, told the court that the process for registering oneself as a voter was on and the deadline has been extended.

"Any person can come and get himself or herself registered," Chavan said.

The advocate, appearing for the Election Commission, told the court that the data collected for Aadhar cards does not include all the information that is required while registering oneself for voting.

The bench accepted this argument and directed the Union Ministry of Information and Technology and the Election Commission to treat the PIL as a representation and consider it and pass appropriate orders within four weeks.