In a significant ruling, the Meghalaya High Court has held that Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students cannot be compelled to produce an Aadhaar card as a prerequisite to receiving post-matric scholarships and other financial assistance. The court emphasised that the right to identity verification cannot override the constitutional guarantee of equality and access to education.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice W. Diengdoh delivered the verdict while hearing a plea challenging a state notification dated October 31, 2023, which had made Aadhaar submission mandatory for availing of the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. The petitioners argued that the directive contradicted both central government policy and the landmark 2018 Supreme Court judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, which ruled that Aadhaar cannot be the sole requirement for accessing welfare schemes.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s decision, the Bench reiterated that no student can be deprived of benefits for failing to furnish an Aadhaar number. The judges observed, “If the students are unable to produce the Aadhaar number, they cannot be denied the benefit of the scheme.” The court underscored that alternate identity and residence proofs—such as birth certificates or residency documents—should be accepted instead.
The Meghalaya High Court also took note of the central government’s exemption for residents of the state from mandatory Aadhaar enrolment, further strengthening the petitioners’ position. It held that enforcing Aadhaar as a condition for scholarships would disproportionately affect tribal students in remote areas who often face logistical barriers to enrolment.
Through this judgment, the court clarified that digital governance must not become an obstacle to welfare access. Administrative convenience, it stated, should never trump the fundamental rights of citizens. The ruling ensures that SC/ST students up to the post-matric level in Meghalaya will continue to receive scholarship support, even without an Aadhaar number, provided they furnish valid alternative identification.
By reaffirming the principle that welfare entitlements must remain inclusive, the Meghalaya High Court has once again highlighted the human and constitutional dimension of digital identity governance in India.
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