In the Aadhaar judgment (Puttaswamy, 2018), the Supreme Court struck down mandatory Aadhaar linking for bank accounts and mobile numbers because:
- Aadhaar technology is inherently flawed
- The privacy intrusion was disproportionate to the stated aims, failing the proportionality test
- Parliament lacked authority to mandate Aadhaar linking
- Aadhaar violates federal principles by centralizing identity verification
Answer: The privacy intrusion was disproportionate to the stated aims, failing the proportionality test
Puttaswamy (2018) proportionality and Aadhaar exclusions: (a) Context: Challenge to mandatory Aadhaar linking requirements for various services, (b) Proportionality analysis for struck down uses: (i) Legitimate aim: Prevent fraud, ensure security in banking, telecom sectors, (ii) Rational connection: Aadhaar authentication may reduce identity fraud, but not only means, (iii) Necessity: Less restrictive alternatives available (e.g., KYC through other documents, targeted verification), (iv) Balancing: Privacy intrusion (mass collection, profiling risks) outweighed benefits for bank accounts, mobile numbers, (c) Upheld uses: (i) Authentication for welfare schemes funded from Consolidated Fund: Benefits (efficient welfare delivery) outweigh privacy intrusion for targeted beneficiaries, (ii) PAN-Aadhaar linking for tax purposes: Benefits (curbing tax evasion, black money) outweigh privacy intrusion for tax compliance, (d) Rationale: (i) Calibrated balancing: Proportionality enables nuanced assessment of privacy restrictions, not absolute prohibition or unlimited state power, (ii) Rights protection: Ensures restrictions justified, not arbitrary; core privacy protected against disproportionate intrusion, (iii) Welfare efficiency: Enables efficient welfare delivery while protecting privacy through calibrated safeguards, (e) Illustrates sophisticated judicial review: Proportionality test enables courts to balance rights vs. state interests; ensures restrictions are justified, necessary, balanced, not arbitrary or overbroad.