Give info on Aadhaar issued to Atala: HC to UIDAI, Centre

Panaji: The Bombay high court directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide the state with information submitted by Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, which was used to issue him an Aadhaar card.

The information was placed under sealed cover in the court’s record in June.

The HC also directed central govt to provide details within two weeks about the enrolment agency authorised by it, through which Atala was enrolled.

The Anjuna police inspector had approached the high court stating that it requires this information to enable the investigating officer to establish the manner in which, and by what validating documents, in the absence of Atala holding a valid passport or visa on the relevant day, was the Aadhaar card issued to establish his residence status.

Justice Valmiki Menezes stated that the disclosure of this information will not result in disclosing any personal document or personal information of Atala.

“The proof of identity (POI), proof of address (POA), and proof of birth (POB) are all provided under a certificate issued by a gazetted officer of govt of Goa in the standard format of the UIDAI. The gazetted officer countersigned the form certifying the place of residence filled in by respondent 3 (Atala) at Anjuna. The POI, POA, and POB have all been certified by the same gazetted officer and are not based upon any other document belonging to respondent 3 (Atala) to substantiate these three parameters,” the court observed.

Atala was on bail for various offences and was in India after being extradited from Peru through Interpol on a Red Corner Notice issued by the CBI. Having no valid residence visa or even a valid passport as of the date he applied for the Aadhaar card, prima facie, may not have entitled him to apply for an Aadhaar card, the HC was told.

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