UIDAI Opposes Plea In Delhi High Court Seeking Mechanism For Issuing New Aadhar Numbers To Existing Users

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday opposed a plea filed before the Delhi High Court, seeking mechanism and procedure for issuance of new Aadhar numbers to existing users in terms of Section 23 (n) of the Aadhaar (Targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies and service) Act, 2016.

It will create a situation like "fancy number plates on cars" if such a prayer is allowed, the Authority told Justice Rekha Palli.

"I'm opposing that if we allow this, there will be large number of cases. It will be like fancy number plates on cars. It cannot be like that," Advocate Zoheb Hossain appearing for UIDAI submitted.

The development comes in the plea filed by a businessman, who had come to know earlier this year that his Aadhar card number has been linked with overseas entities, thereby apprehending that someone has misused his identity. 

During the course of hearing, Hossain apprised the Court that a counter affidavit has been filed by UIDAI.

He also submitted before the Court that there are sufficient safeguards available with the petitioner to take ownership of his Aadhar number. He suggested the petitioner to update his credentials including mobile number and email address for ensuring exclusive usage of his Aadhaar number.

"If that can be done, then his prayer for issuing new Aadhar number should not be allowed," Hossain submitted.

In view of the aforesaid submissions, the hearing was adjourned to January 5.

The Court had issued notice on the plea in July this year.

Raising concern about the impending danger that his name can be used to carry out unlawful activities such as money laundering, fraud, forgery, etc., the petition sought directions on the Centre and UIDAI to issue new Aadhaar card number to the Petitioner in compliance with the clause (n) of Section 23 of the Act.

"Once if his Aadhar information has already been compromised in public domain, the damage cannot be undone without issuing him a new Aadhar and cancelling his old Aadhar card. The same is not only vital for the Petitioner but also required to prevent any perpetrators in India or overseas to use this information to commit some illegality," the plea averred.

Filed through Advocates Sonal Anand and Surbhi Singh, the plea stated that privacy is vital to every resident of the country and shall never be compromised in any manner.

"The data breaches have caused severe mental agony and emotional suffering to the Petitioner, as he fears potential misuse of his data at the hands of unscrupulous third parties," the plea stated.

Case Title: Rajan Arora v. UOI & Anr.