Aadhaar Card Update: Supreme Court Rules Aadhaar Not Valid Proof for Date of Birth, Prioritizes School Certificates
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Aadhaar card is not considered valid proof for determining an individual’s date of birth. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Ujjal Bhuiyan clarified that while Aadhaar is accepted for establishing identity, it cannot be used to confirm age or date of birth.
Supreme Court Overturns High Court Ruling on Aadhaar-Based Age Verification
This verdict quashed a previous ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which accepted the Aadhaar card to establish the age of a road accident victim for compensation purposes. Instead, the Supreme Court upheld that the age should be determined based on the date of birth mentioned in a school leaving certificate, in accordance with Section 94 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Aadhaar Only for Identity, Not Date of Birth Proof: Circular Clarifies
The Supreme Court referenced Circular No. 8/2023 issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which reaffirms that Aadhaar is a document for identity verification only, not age. This ruling has set a precedent, particularly in cases requiring accurate age verification for legal claims and benefits.
Case Background: Road Accident Victim’s Age in Compensation Dispute
This ruling emerged from a 2015 case involving a road accident victim whose compensation was recalculated based on differing age interpretations. Initially, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded Rs 19.35 lakh based on the age mentioned in the school certificate. However, the High Court reduced this amount to Rs 9.22 lakh after considering the Aadhaar card, which indicated a different age. The Supreme Court, siding with the deceased’s family, restored the original calculation based on the school certificate.
Implications of the Ruling on Age Proof in Legal Matters
This Supreme Court decision underscores the importance of official educational records, like school leaving certificates, over Aadhaar for age verification in legal cases, ensuring accurate representation of age, particularly for claims involving financial compensation.
Key Takeaways:
- Aadhaar card is valid for identity verification only—not date of birth.
- School certificates are prioritized as authentic age documentation in legal matters.
- This verdict affects cases related to compensation, benefits, and legal age verification.
This ruling has implications across various sectors where date of birth is crucial for legal identification and compensation calculations, emphasizing the need for reliable and accurate documentation.