Supreme Court Seeks Response on Misuse of Aadhaar as Citizenship Proof

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre, all states, and Union Territories on a petition alleging widespread misuse of Aadhaar cards as proof of citizenship, domicile, and residence. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana issued notices on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, linking it with similar pending matters.

The petition argues that Aadhaar, designed solely for identity verification, is being improperly accepted in school admissions, property transactions, birth certificates, and voter registration despite legal provisions prohibiting such use. Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, explicitly states Aadhaar is not evidence of citizenship or domicile. A 2023 UIDAI notification further clarified that Aadhaar serves only as proof of identity.

The plea particularly raises concerns about Aadhaar's use in voter registration processes, where it is treated as proof of date of birth and residence, potentially violating the Representation of the People Act and constitutional guarantees.