India, Dec. 13 -- The Orissa High Court has directed education authorities at both the state and central levels to amend the consent form used for generating Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs to include an explicit opt-out option, holding that the absence of a refusal clause undermines the fundamental right to privacy even though the scheme is voluntary.

"Since the right to privacy is a fundamental right and, though not absolute, can only be subject to reasonable restrictions, the same has to be protected and respected by the State at all costs," Justice Sashikanta Mishra ordered on Friday over a petition filed by the parent of a kindergarten student in a Bhubaneswar-based private school.

Justice Mishra said that...