Journey From Civilian Application To Defence Application Of Aadhaar

Citing a letter from Department of Electronics & Information Technology, Ministry of Defence sent an Urgent/Top Priority Circular to Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of the Air Staff asking them to compulsorily ensure that all the employees enrolled for UID/Aadhaar Number. When questions were raised about this being a defence application of aadhaar contrary to the initial promise of it being a civilian application Department of Electronics and Information Technology, responded stating, “Aadhaar is being used for Biometric Attendance System and this does not form part of Defence application”. Central Government’s Biometrics Standards Committee had categorically stated that UID/Aadhaar’s is meant only for “civilian application” but the order on aadhaar enabled biometric attendance system has been extended to defence employees as well. The coverage of defence employees under Aadhaar enabled Biometric Attendance System implies that Aadhaar is being put to defence application contrary to government’s claims. As per Section 47, “Courts will take cognizance of offences under this Act only upon complaint being made by the UIDAI or any officer authorised by it.” This deprives the victim of a right to file complaint although Section 34 of the Act provides that “Impersonating or attempting to impersonate another person by providing false demographic or biometric information will punishable by imprisonment of up to three years, and/or fine of up to ten thousand rupees.” Victims cannot file complaint even when someone changes or attempts to change any demographic or biometric information of an Aadhaar number holder by impersonating another person, with the intent of i) causing harm or mischief to an Aadhaar number holder, or ii) appropriating the identity of an Aadhaar number holder although it is punishable under Section 35.