NEW DELHI – A significant Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in the Supreme Court of India, seeking to overhaul the enrolment process for Aadhaar cards. The petition, filed by lawyer and social activist Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay, argues that the current “easy” procurement of Aadhaar cards poses a grave threat to national security, government resources, and the integrity of the electoral process.
The Proposed “Six-Year” Rule
The crux of the petition rests on the claim that India has reached a point of Aadhaar saturation. With over 1.44 billion cards already issued, the petitioner asserts that almost every genuine Indian citizen is already in the system.
Under the proposed regulations:
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New Enrolments: Should be restricted exclusively to children up to the age of six years.
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Adult & Adolescent Applicants: Any individual above the age of six seeking a new card would face significantly more stringent verification protocols.
“Infiltrators are exploiting the existing system to easily procure Aadhaar cards, subsequently claiming to be Indian citizens,” the petition states, highlighting the risk of undocumented individuals using these cards to obtain further credentials like ration cards and voter IDs.
Stricter Verification and Bureaucratic Oversight
To curb the misuse of the system, Upadhyay suggests that the verification process for any adult applicant must be elevated to higher administrative levels. Instead of standard enrolment centres, the petition demands that:
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Official Vetting: Verification must be conducted by high-ranking officials, specifically a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or a Tehsildar.
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Public Awareness: All Aadhaar centres must install large display boards. These boards must explicitly state that an Aadhaar card serves only as proof of identity and does not constitute proof of citizenship, address, or date of birth.
Impact and Penalties
The petitioner argues that these changes would not harm genuine citizens, given the near-total coverage of the existing population. However, for those attempting to bypass the law, the PIL advocates for severe punishment for obtaining cards through fraudulent documents or misrepresentation.
Comparison of Proposed Changes
| Current System | Proposed System (PIL) |
| Open enrolment for all ages. | New enrolment limited to children ≤ 6 years. |
| Private/Semi-govt vendor verification. | Mandatory SDM or Tehsildar verification for adults. |
| General identification document. | Mandatory “Not a Proof of Citizenship” disclaimer. |
| Standard legal penalties for fraud. | Enhanced, “severe” criminal penalties. |
What’s Next?
The Supreme Court will now decide whether to admit the PIL for hearing. If accepted, the court may seek a response from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Union Government.
The outcome of this case could redefine the accessibility of India’s primary identification document, balancing the need for universal inclusion against the growing concerns of national security and demographic integrity.
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