The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to grant after “due verification” fresh or duplicate Aadhaar cards to all those displaced citizens who had lost their Aadhaar cards during ethnic violence in Manipur.

A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, however, said it cannot run the Manipur government as various issues are sought to be raised before it instead of approaching the high court for relief or having faith in the three-member ex-judges committee headed by retired J&K High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal.

“Someone will have to verify if they're genuine citizens. What if someone is an illegal entrant? We will say that the authorities will verify if the person is a genuine citizen. We can't pass a general order,” the bench orally observed after senior advocate Vibha Makhija urged it to direct the UIADA and banks to ensure that persons with disabilities get duplicate Aadhaar cards.

The bench also cautioned lawyers against preventing colleagues from appearing for victims before Manipur High Court.