On Thursday, many cellphone users reported getting fresh messages pestering them over Aadhaar linkage, despite the SC's statement. But then, telecom service providers seem to have made a habit of ignoring the SC. Even though the apex court had made it clear more than a month ago that the Aadhaar linkage issue should not be pursued until a constitutional bench finally decides on the matter, companies such as Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular have been relentlessly – and rather annoyingly – hounding subscribers.
To make matters worse, retailers have now started refusing to issue new SIM cards to people who do not have an Aadhaar number -- a clear violation of telecom sector rules as well as the views expressed by the top court.
The telecom ministry, on its part, has maintained a deafening silence on the issue, though it had showed great alacrity in issuing the original diktat for the Aadhaar linkage. This order was based on the ministry's own interpretation -- incorrect, as it turns out -- of an observation by the SC in the Lokniti Foundation case.
The number of subscribers who have not linked their phone numbers to Aadhaar is still estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, and many don't take kindly to being bombarded with unwanted communication. "It is irritating to say the least. The fear psychosis of disconnection is being unnecessarily thrust upon us to literally coerce people to link numbers with Aadhaar," says Pravin, who recently shifted base from Chennai to Delhi.
"I was denied a new SIM card by an Airtel representative in the absence of an Aadhaar number. I was ready to give other identification documents like electoral card, passport, or bank statement. But the retailer refused to budge. After I threatened him by mentioning the top court's observation, the retailer said he would 'get back' to me. But he never did," says Pravin after failing to get the new SIM.
The same issue was faced by Jasleen, a corporate executive in Bangalore. "I needed a new SIM for usage by my son. But the Airtel store simply refused to issue a new SIM in the absence of Aadhaar. Finally, I had to relent."
Those visiting the country fare no better. Sapan B, an NRI settled in the US, faced a similar issue when he recently came visiting his relatives in Delhi. "I was not given a SIM card without Aadhaar. Is it fair, especially when there is no directive to this effect by the government or the courts?"