'Issue Should Be Solved At Earliest': Supreme Court On Aadhaar Linkage With Social Media Accounts

The Supreme Court on Friday sought centre’s future plan regarding the linkage of Aadhaar with social media accounts. It observed that the issue of linking Aadhaar with social media accounts should be decided at the earliest. At this stage “we do not know whether we could decide this issue or the high court will decide”, bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose said. The bench further stated that it will decide the petition filed by Facebook seeking transfer of such cases pending before high courts of Madras, Bombay and Madhya Pradesh to the top court. 

On August 20, the apex court had sought response from the Centre, Google, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube and others on Facebook Inc’s plea seeking transfer of cases related to linking of social media accounts with Aadhaar, pending in different high courts to the apex court.

However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing centre maintained that it has no objection if cases related to linking of social media profiles with Aadhaar pending in Madras HC are transferred to top court.

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday alleged Facebook Inc and other social media companies of not complying with Indian laws which finally resulted in “increased lawlessness” and difficulties in “detecting crimes”. 

Facebook Inc has contended that the issue of the procurement of data by probe agencies should be decided by the Supreme Court as the issue is bound to have a global impact. It added that different high courts have taken contrary views and for the sake of uniformity it would be better, if the cases are heard at the Supreme Court. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Supreme Court on Friday sought centre’s future plan
• Tamil Nadu government alleged Facebook Inc of not complying with laws 
• The bench further stated that it will decide the petition filed by Facebook