Privacy over Procedure: Bombay HC Orders ₹50K Compensation for Denial of Bank Account Without Aadhaar

In Microfibers Pvt. Ltd. v. Yes Bank Ltd., the Bombay High Court criticized the bank’s insistence on Aadhaar to open an account, even in violation of Supreme Court orders prohibiting compulsion. The petitioner, whose inability to rent property without a bank account led to this writ, petitioned for Rs. 10 lakhs in compensation. Finding constitutional violation and monetary loss, the Court granted a compensation of Rs. 50,000. The decision upholds citizen rights under Article 21 and asserts institutional accountability in the compliance with privacy and service access jurisprudence following Puttaswamy.