Don't Share Photocopies Of Aadhaar; Unlicensed Entities Like Hotels Can't Keep Aadhaar Cards : UIDAI
Updated:- Thinking Boxx
June/2023 18:45 PM IST
UPDATE : UIDAI has withdrawn this press release on May 29.The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has warned the general public not to share photocopy of one's Aadhaar with any organizations because it can be misused. Alternatively, a masked Aadhaar which displays only the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar number can be used for the purpose. It can be downloaded from UIDAI.
Do not share a photocopy of the Aadhaar card with any such institution. It is more likely to be misused. Private companies and hotels that are not licensed by the UIDAI are not allowed to accept or keep copies of the Aadhaar card, according to a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
People have also been warned not to use internet cafes to download Aadhaar cards. The centre also directed the users to leave the café only after deleting the downloaded files.
For many in India’s private sector, the Supreme Court’s ban on private companies using Aadhaar means it is time to rethink business strategies. They may have to do so only temporarily, going by signals coming from the government. Indeed, high-stakes legal and policy clashes have already begun. In the petition, Justice Puttaswamy had sought an immediate stay on the implementation of the UID scheme. He said, "The scheme is complete infraction of Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty). The government claims that the scheme is voluntary but it is not so. Aadhaar is being made mandatory for purposes like registration of marriages and others. Maharashtra government has recently said no marriage will be registered if parties don't have Aadhaar cards."
Sikri notes that Aadhaar can be used for “other purposes”, likening it to identity proofs such as passport, PAN card, driving licence and ration card. So, if anyone voluntarily uses Aadhaar as identity proof, “there may not be a problem”. The consequence is a rather curious situation: a person may voluntarily want to use Aadhaar as identity proof but may not be able to since non-state entities are not allowed to accept Aadhaar to verify identity.
The petitioner asserted that the issue required a meticulous judicial examination by the Bench since it raised questions not only over the government's authority to implement the scheme, but also highlighted the perils of the manner of its implementation.
The Bench accepted his arguments and agreed to hear his contentions on the interim stay as well on while asking the centre and state governments to file their replies.
In its reply, the Centre had earlier claimed that for an Aadhaar card, consent of an individual was indispensable and hence it was a voluntary project, with an objective to promote inclusion and benefits of the marginalised sections of the society that has no formal identity proof.
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