APAAR ID: No APAAR ID without consent? Supreme Court tells CBSE to give parents a 'Yes' or 'No' option..

APAAR ID: The Supreme Court has made a significant observation regarding the APAAR ID being created for students in schools. The Court clearly indicated that if the scheme is entirely voluntary, parents must have a clear choice regarding whether or not to participate. The Court stated that the directives issued by the Odisha High Court in this regard will now be implemented nationwide. This could bring relief to parents who were uncertain about getting APAAR IDs created for their children.

Odisha High Court directives to be implemented nationwide
During the hearing of a petition concerning the APAAR ID scheme, a bench led by the Chief Justice stated that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) must implement the Odisha High Court's ruling across the country. In its verdict, the High Court had ruled that the consent form for the APAAR ID must explicitly state that parents have the option to refuse consent or withdraw from the scheme at a later stage.

What is the entire matter?

The petition claimed that while the APAAR ID scheme is described as voluntary, students and parents in many schools are being pressured to obtain it. The petitioners argued that the APAAR ID is linked to Aadhaar and is being made mandatory for examinations and other academic processes in several places, thereby raising questions about the scheme's voluntary nature.

What did the Supreme Court say?
During the hearing, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the objective of the APAAR ID is to create a unique academic identity for every student, which could help improve the education system. The Court remarked that a beneficial initiative should not be viewed with suspicion without cause. Additionally, the Court clarified that data protection laws exist in the country and that students' information must be used solely for the purpose for which it was collected. 

**Emphasis on Parental Consent**
The petitioners argued that the current consent process does not offer parents a clear option to opt out of the scheme. In response, the Supreme Court acknowledged that if the scheme is indeed voluntary, parents must have the full right to either grant or withhold consent. The Court has directed the CBSE to review this aspect as well.

**Students' Rights Will Not Be Compromised**
The petition also sought an assurance that a student would not be denied admission, exam registration, marksheets, certificates, or any other academic facility simply for not obtaining an APAAR ID. The Supreme Court stated that a detailed order regarding the entire matter would be issued later. It is expected that following this decision, a uniform system regarding the APAAR ID will be implemented nationwide, and parental rights will be more clearly safeguarded.

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