The former Chairman of UIDAI and the architect of Aadhaar, Nandan Nilekani, has hailed the Supreme Court verdict as a landmark judgment.

“More than just opining on the constitutionality of the act, the Supreme Court has unequivocally validated the founding principles for Aadhaar,” he said.

Nilekani said Aadhaar is a unique identity project that is critical to the developmental goals of the nation. “Aadhaar includes, doesn’t exclude. The resident was once again recognised as being at the heart of the project, and they have gained new rights that help them assert their ownership over their data.

“Aadhaar has undergone the ultimate scrutiny in the highest court, and a lot of recommendations have been incorporated. Through the democratic process of discussion and debate, we have created a better and stronger Aadhaar together,” Nilekani said.