SC seeks response from Centre, States on Aadhaar ‘misuse’, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and States regarding the alleged misuse of Aadhaar cards.
• The plea, filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, claims illegal immigrants are using Aadhaar as proof of citizenship, domicile, and residence.
• This alleged misuse allows them to avail benefits and register as voters, undermining electoral integrity.
• The petition argues this practice violates Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which states Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship or domicile.
• A UIDAI notification from August 2023 also clarified that Aadhaar serves only as proof of identity.

Detailed Insights:

• The petitioner highlighted that Aadhaar is being used for various purposes beyond identity verification, including school admissions, property purchases, and obtaining birth certificates.
• A significant concern raised is the use of Aadhaar as proof of date of birth and residence in Form-6 for new voter registration.
• The plea suggests that this loophole facilitates the inclusion of "infiltrators and illegal immigrants" in electoral rolls, particularly in border states like West Bengal and Assam.
• It contends that political parties might exploit this situation for electoral benefits, compromising the sanctity of the election process.
• The petition advocates for a complete overhaul of the verification framework used in electoral processes.
• It proposes establishing a high-powered monitoring committee, comprising a retired Supreme Court judge and cybersecurity experts, to oversee these reforms.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Aadhaar Act, 2016: The legislation that governs the issuance and use of Aadhaar numbers in India.
• UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India): A statutory authority responsible for issuing Aadhaar numbers and managing the Aadhaar ecosystem.
• Form-6: The application form prescribed by the Election Commission of India for individuals to apply for new voter registration.
• Electoral Integrity: The principle that elections are conducted fairly, transparently, and in accordance with established laws, ensuring the legitimacy of the democratic process.