Pay Rs 1 Crore Penalty For Violating Aadhaar Rules: Check What’s Allowed, What’s Not Allowed

Now accessing details of Aadhar card information has been made easier by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for the Indian citizens by launching several services regarding it.

This is because the 12-digit verifiable identification number is used in several governmental and non-governmental works, most of which are important.

For an Indian citizen, Aadhaar card is arguably one of the most important documents for documentation. Aadhar, unlike other identification sources like Voter ID, PAN card, and others, has several purposes. Albeit, there have been multiple instances wherein the Aadhar card has been misused by people.

Officials To Be Appointed

To tackle the issue of Aadhar violations, UIDAI has recently been permitted to impose huge fines on fraudsters. UIDAI has been instructed by the Indian government to appoint officials who will prosecute those who violate the Aadhaar Act.

On November 2, 2021, UIDAI rules were notified by the government under which the organisation may initiate a complaint against an entity that fails to comply with the Act or the UIDAI’s directions. This complaint will be registered in the Aadhaar ecosystem and UIDAI will furnish the required information.

Penalties up to Rs 1 crore Shall Be Imposed

Appointed by the UIDAI, officers in charge to judge the matter will be responsible to decide such matters. Penalties up to Rs 1 crore shall be imposed on such entities. The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal shall be the appellate authority against decisions of the Adjudicating Officer.

The legislation enacting the UIDAI rules imposed in 2021, was originally passed in 2019. Therefore, the Aadhaar Act, at that time, did not have provisions for the UIDAI to take enforcement action against guilty entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem.

With the view to protect the privacy and also to ensure the autonomy of the UIDAI, the law was passed in 2019 that this issue needs to be addressed. Therefore, a new chapter was then inserted in Aadhaar Act to provide for civil penalties.

“Penalty for failure to comply with provisions of this Act, rules, regulations and directions [Section 33A] – upto Rs. 1 crore for each contravention” said the UIDAI notice.

Apart from this, the Aadhaar law signifies that impersonation by providing false demographic or biometric information is an offense. Person involved in doing so will be imprisoned for three years along with a fine of Rs 10,000. The UDAI website also notices that Appropriating the identity of an Aadhaar number holder by changing or attempting to change the demographic and biometric information of an Aadhaar number holder is an offense, and that it attract imprisonment for 3 years and a fine of Rs 10,000.