The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has sent notices to at least 127 people in Hyderabad to verify their Aadhaar enrolment documents in person and prove their claims of ‘Indian citizenship’ or face a suspension or cancellation of their Aadhaar card.
The matter grabbed headlines after a letter sent to an autorickshaw driver went viral on social media on Tuesday (February 18). In the letter, the driver identified as Sattar Khan has been asked to appear before a UIDAI official on February 20 “with all necessary documents in original to prove all his claims of Indian citizenship”.
“If you are not an Indian national, prove that you have entered the territory of India legally and your stay is valid,” the notice, served under Rule 30 (Chapter VI) of Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, said. The notice also mentions a “complaint/objection”, without naming the person who objected to Khan’s Aadhaar enrolment.
The UIDAI defended the move saying that Telangana police has informed the Hyderabad office of UIDAI that 127 people obtained Aadhaar “on false pretences” and were illegal immigrants.