Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, state governments and the Election Commission on a petition challenging the use of Aadhaar as proof of citizenship and other purposes beyond identity verification.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued notices to the concerned authorities after hearing a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay through advocate Ashwani Dubey. The Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and has only sought replies from the respondents at this stage.
Petition's Core Argument
The petition contends that Aadhaar can serve only as proof of identity and cannot be treated as proof of citizenship, domicile, residence or date of birth.
It relies on Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which explicitly states that an Aadhaar number shall not, by itself, confer any right of citizenship or domicile. The plea also cites a UIDAI notification issued in August 2023, which clarified that Aadhaar is merely an identity document and does not constitute proof of citizenship, address or date of birth.
According to the petitioners, Aadhaar is increasingly being used for purposes beyond identity verification, including school admissions, property transactions and obtaining other official documents. They argue that such practices are contrary to the legal framework governing Aadhaar.
Questions Over Voter Registration
The petition also raises concerns about the voter enrolment process, particularly the use of Aadhaar in Form 6 applications for inclusion in electoral rolls.
It argues that Aadhaar should not be accepted as proof of birth or residence for voter registration and calls for stricter verification mechanisms before names are added to electoral rolls and other official records.
What Happens Next
The case remains at a preliminary stage. The Supreme Court has not issued any directions or observations on the validity of the petition's claims. Further proceedings will take place after the Centre, state governments and the Election Commission submit their responses.
