Aadhaar optional for property registration: AAP to Delhi HC

NEWDELHI: Aadhaar is accepted as proof of identity for property registration and land mutation, but it is only an optional requirement and there is no provision in the law making it mandatory, the AAP government told the Delhi High Court Wednesday.

The submission by the Delhi government was made in an affidavit filed before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar in response to notice issued to it on a PIL by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking linking of immovable and movable property documents of citizens with their Aadhaar number to curb corruption, black money generation and ‘benami’ transactions.

“Aadhaar is one of the documents that is required to submit as proof of identity for registration of properties. However, the same, as on date, is only an optional requirement.

“Similarly, for mutation of land, Aadhaar is again used as one of the identity proof document. It if further mentioned that production of Aadhaar is not a mandatory requirement for registration of property documents as there is no such provision in the Registration Act, 1908,” the Delhi government has said in its affidavit.

It has also said that in terms of the Supreme Court judgment of September last on the validity of

Aadhaar, it has been categorically held that mandatory production of Aadhaar details or number may only be insisted upon for welfare schemes.

The central government, meanwhile, told the bench that it needs more t i me t o f i l e i t s response and therefore, the court listed the matter for further hearing on February 18.