The UIDAI office in Andheri West in Mumbai accepts Aadhaar card applications between 8:30 am and 9:30 am. Like scores of others, I had joined the line outside the office gates very early. At 5 am, I was the 37th one in line.

At 8:30 am, officials came out of the office, selected the first 30 people in the queue, and told the remaining 70 odd people that their applications will not be accepted that day.

Without the least apology or expression of sympathy, they simply ordered (note, ordered) the people to go away. The people meekly turned away without protest, to try again the next day, perhaps to start lining up at 2 am.