Aadhaar mandatory for PG Medical Admissions at Lucknow University, despite SC order

New Delhi: The Lucknow University (LU) despite the Supreme Court's interim stay on Aadhaar requirement for entrance exams, such as the pan-India NEET, is insisting on its aspirants having the unique identity number for admission to its Post-Graduate (PG) courses.

The April admission process saw the state university declare submitting to Aadhaar or at least its enrolment number as mandatory criteria.

"Applicants who do not have their Aadhaar card have to apply for one and fill the LU form using the option of Aadhaar Card enrolment number and later on have to update the actual number when they get it," as per the form-filling guidelines published on the website of the university.

The Lucknow University, Registrar, Raj Kumar Singh said although Aadhaar is "compulsory", an aspirant who does not have it can mention it to the Admission Co-ordinator.

"Aadhaar is compulsory, but we are not going to hold back any person from taking admission if he doesn't have Aadhaar. However, as far as it's feasible he or she must produce Aadhaar. In case one doesn't have it, he can write to the admission coordinator saying so... The basic objective is to establish the identity of the candidate," Singh added.

However, despite his assurance, the fact remains that the online form submission is not possible on the university website without the aspirant filling his /her Aadhaar details.

When his comment was sought on this aspect, Singh didn't respond to calls or messages from the press.

In an interim order passed last month, the Supreme Court had ruled that Aadhaar was not mandatory for enrolment in the all-India medical entrance exam NEET conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

Meanwhile, March had a the five-judge Constitution bench extend the March 31 deadline set for the linking of Aadhaar with various services, including telephone and bank account, "till the matter is heard and judgment is pronounced by the constitution bench".

"We had extended the ambit of our orders (on the voluntary nature of Aadhaar) to even the State governments," Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had added reported TOI.