SC asks govt: Does homeless people do not exist for you; Aadhaar link

New Delhi, Jan 10: The Supreme Court on Wednesday raised concerns over homeless not getting benefits of the social welfare schemes in the absence of Aadhaar and asked how will they get them if they don't have a permanent address. The apex court said that lakhs of homeless people would be deprived of the social scheme benefits in the absence of a permanent address and hence, an Aadhaar card if the government insists on linking Aadhaar to various social welfare schemes.

When the bench comprising of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta was told that a permanent address is must to get an Aadhaar card, it said, "It means that they are not-existent for the governments."

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the bench that many homeless people have permanent addresses in rural areas of the country and they became homeless after shifting to the city. He also said that he would take instructions from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

"They could get benefits of schemes after getting Aadhaar from their original place of residence," he said.