CENTRE: MOBILE PHONES THROUGH AADHAAR NOT TO BE DISCONNECTED

Mobile phone connections that were issued on the basis of Aadhaar documents will not be disconnected, the government said on Thursday, rubbishing news reports that 50 crore numbers, almost half of the phones in India, were at the risk of disconnection.

These reports are “completely untrue and imaginary”, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the department of telecommunications (DOT) said in a joint statement.

“The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgement in Aadhaar case has nowhere directed that the mobile number which has been issued through Aadhaar eKYC has to be disconnected. Therefore, there is absolutely no reason for panic or fear at all. People should not believe in such rumours,” it said.

The statement clarified that the top court has said UIDAI should not keep authentication log for more than six months but the telecom companies have to keep the data as per Aadhaar regulations to resolve grievances of consumers.

“Further, in the light of the SC verdict, if anybody wishes to get her/his Aadhaar eKYC replaced by the fresh KYC, s/he may request the service provider for delinking of her/his Aadhaar by submitting fresh OVDs as per earlier DOT Circulars on mobile KYC. But in any case her/his mobile number will not be disconnected,” the statement said.

NEWDELHI: