File picture of the Supreme Court.
The Central government has told the Supreme Court that it has already spent Rs 5,000 crores on implementing the Aadhar programme and it was too late to scrap it.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court today that calling off the unique identity programme would affect the welfare schemes and may affect government efforts to counter poverty.
He also argued that around 80 crore people in the country out of India's total population of about 120 crore have already enrolled in Aadhaar.
The Attorney General also requested the court that this case be referred to a five-judge constitution bench as important constitutional issues are involved.
Modi government had approached the Supreme Court to lift its two-year-old stay order restraining the government from asking for Aadhaar numbers to transfer benefits under social welfare schemes.
The Aadhaar number, processed by the Unique Identification Authority, has become essential for every government service. From availing ration cards to bank accounts, voter ID cards and even LPG subsidy - the number is a must in most states.
In September 2013, the Supreme Court had ruled that the card cannot be a prerequisite for public services. Last year, in March, the court had asked the government why the Aadhaar card was still being treated as mandatory for citizens who want to get their marriages or property registered, or receive a gas connection.