GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 717
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07-02-2018
DEACTIVATION OF AADHAAR NUMBERS
- DR. SHASHI THAROOR:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the Aadhaar numbers that have been deactivated by the Government till date, State, district, year and region-wise data of the same;
(b) in case this data is not available, the steps being taken to maintain such a database; and
(c) whether such persons have been informed that their numbers have been deactivated and that they will no longer be able to use their Aadhaar to avail any services, if not, the reasons therefor and the steps to be taken/being taken to inform them?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) & (b): As on 17.01.2018, approx 68.6 Lakh Aadhaars are in deactivated state. There is no system of maintaining year wise records of deactivations. Maintaining such a database is not required under the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and Aadhaar (Enrolment & Update) Regulations, 2016.
(c): As per Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update Regulations) 2016, “Any case reported or identified as a possible case requiring omission or deactivation may require field inquiry which may include hearing the persons whose Aadhaar number is sought to be omitted or deactivated.” Post deactivation of Aadhaar, the resident is also intimated through SMS and e-mail provided at the time of enrolment. The residents also get to know about status of their Aadhaar at the time of authentication. Further, status of an Aadhaar can also be checked by visiting the UIDAI resident portal (https://resident.uidai.gov.in/aadhaarverification).
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Relevance/Significance
As of 17th January, 2018- 68.8 lakh Aadhar numbers have been deactivated. The Government said it may hear person before deactivating the number, which means it can decide whether or not to hear someone before deactivating something as important as the aadhar number. Further, it is stated that a person is only informed post deactivation through SMS and email, thereby completely ignoring the principle of audi alteram partem i.e to hear the other side before taking a punitive action, and the difficulties faced by persons without SMS or internet services, as their aadhar numbers may be deactivated without them even knowing about it.
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