The Election Commission of India is instead likely to plead SC to allow voluntary linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs
As the Supreme Court is set to hear a public interest litigation seeking linking of Aadhaar numbers with electoral voter ID cards, the Election Commission of India may suggest the apex court to not make it mandatory.
The election authority is instead likely to plead SC to allow voluntary linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs. It is looking to offer several incentives like online voting rights or option of voting through postal ballots for such voters who would link their photo identity cards with Aadhaar, said a report of The Economic Times citing its sources.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
Earlier, at the time of Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti, the EC had backed mandatory linking of Aadhaar with voter identity cards. It had said that the move would help prevent fraudulent practices in elections.
The authority is reportedly considering the fact that no voter can be denied from the right to caste a vote on the basis of refusal to link Aadhaar and therefore it cannot be made mandatory. On the other hand, it would also encourage the process of linking with incentivizing the voters who go through the process.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had also rejected the suggestion of linking Aadhaar with voter ID, saying he was personally not in favour of it. "Both of them (Aadhaar and voter ID) operate in different fields.You go to cast your vote...If you show your Aadhaar card, you will not be allowed to cast your vote unless you show your voter ID card."
As many as 32 crore Aadhaar numbers have been linked to voter ID cards till March 10. "So far, as many as 32 crore Aadhaar numbers have been linked to voter ID cards. Another 54.5 crore will be done as soon as we get a nod from the Supreme Court," Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat had said.
(With inputs from PTI)