Re-verification of mobile-subscribers voluntary post SC verdict on Aadhaar: DoT-UIDAI
After the Supreme Court's verdict on Aadhaar, the Department of Telecom (DoT) and Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) issued a joint statement stating that the government will not push for re-verification of mobile service customers. The statement also said that it will be done only if a customer opts to replace Aadhaar records with their any alternate identity or address proof. Here's more.
The joint statement said the Supreme Court has prohibited the issuance of new SIM cards through Aadhaar eKYC authentication process and there is no direction to deactivate the old mobile phones. "Hon'ble Supreme Court in its judgment has nowhere directed that the mobile number which has been issued through Aadhaar eKYC has to be disconnected. There is absolutely no reason to panic," it said.
There are speculations that subscribers enrolled through Aadhaar-based authentication process may have to provide fresh documents to complete their Know Your Customer (KYC) process again, as the Supreme Court judgment has restricted the use of Aadhaar-based verification by private entities. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had given time till October 15 to telecom operators for complying with the apex court order.
"In the light of the verdict, if anybody wishes to get her/his Aadhaar eKYC replaced by the fresh KYC, she or he may request the service provider for de-linking of their Aadhaar by submitting fresh OVDs (official valid documents) as per earlier DOT circulars on mobile KYC," the statement said. "But in any case... mobile number will not be disconnected," it said.
The joint statement further noted that the SC has not asked to delete all the eKYC data of telecom customers after six months but has said that UIDAI should not keep authentication log for more than six months. "The restriction is on UIDAI and not on the telecom companies. Therefore there is no need for telecom companies to delete authentication logs," the statement said.
