UIDAI wants 400 Aadhaar cards deactivated in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad office of the Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) has recommended deactivation of some 400 Aadhaar cards across Telangana in past one year. The authority had sent the card-holders notices after receiving complaints that they had obtained the card on false pretences. Many of these people were untraceable or had not responded to the notice, while others have presented their case before the authorities.

UIDAI has made the recommendation at a time when there is a raging controversy over 87 residents in the Old City receiving notices over complaints that they were not Indian citizens or had obtained the Aadhaar card falsely.

“We regularly inquire into complaints of an applicant obtaining an Aadhaar card with fake documents or fake biometrics. We receive complaints against enrolment agencies and operators as well. If we don’t get a proper explanation from the card-holder, we recommend deactivation,” an official told TOI.


Final decision on deactivation is taken by the UIDAI headquarters. The official, however, refused to give details of the number of cards that have been deactivated.

“In most cases, we can’t trace the people after sending the notices. If we find them, we ask them to correct their address and identity proof. In rare cases we recommend deactivation,” the official added.

Sources added that UIDAI prefers not recommending too many deactivations as it reflects on its own functioning.

Officials added that there were three types of cases of false pretences – using another person’s fingerprints with the help of the operator or taking advantage of the rush during enrolment; taking advantage of Aadhaar rules which have an exception for people without fingers; providing false identity documents or address proof.

Sources added that that even in the early days of the enrolment, the authority had recommended deactivation of cards after finding some irregularities. During enquiry, even the operator who takes the biometrics and documents is questioned. Many enrolment agencies hired by UADAI in the initial days were suspended.