What Is Aadhaar and Why It’s Important?
In present times, the Aadhaar card has become an indispensable document. It is now a mandatory requirement for availing of various government services. It contains the holder’s name, photograph, address, and date of birth. Many agencies use Aadhaar to verify identity since its introduction. However, its role as proof of age has recently come under scrutiny.
The Legal Case That Challenged Aadhaar’s Role in Age Verification
Recently, a case before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Rohtak raised serious questions. In this case, the Tribunal awarded ₹19.35 lakhs to the legal heirs of a man who died in a road accident.
However, the Insurance Company appealed the decision in the High Court. The court reduced the compensation to ₹9.22 lakhs.
This reduction happened because the High Court used a different age multiplier. It calculated the deceased’s age as 47 years based on his date of birth mentioned on the Aadhaar card. In contrast, the MACT had considered him 45 years old.
High Court vs. Supreme Court: The Legal Tug-of-War
The deceased’s family challenged the High Court’s judgment in the Supreme Court. They argued that relying on the Aadhaar card for determining age was erroneous. According to them, his school leaving certificate showed his age at the time of death as 45 years, not 47.
Supreme Court’s Verdict: Aadhaar Is Not Proof of Date of Birth
The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan ruled in favor of the family. It cited Section 94 of the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children), 2015, which states that age should be determined by the school leaving certificate, not the Aadhaar card.
Moreover, the bench referred to UIDAI Circular No. 8 of 2023. This circular, based on an Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology dated 20.12.2018, clearly states that the Aadhaar card serves solely for identification purposes and is not conclusive proof of date of birth.
What This Means for You: Aadhaar’s True Purpose Clarified
Consequently, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the MACT. It relied on the school leaving certificate for age determination.
This landmark ruling reaffirms that the primary purpose of the Aadhaar Card is to verify the identification of the holder and is not a bonafide proof of age.
It should not be used for determination of age in sensitive matters like Motor Accident Claim.
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