Aadhaar is an identity document, not a family relationship, says UP Registration Department | Today’s news
A day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the Indian passport is a travel document and not a citizenship document, the registration department of the UP government said that the Aadhaar card is only a proof of identity and not a proof of relationship.
Use other documents to verify family ties
The official notification states that Aadhaar is strictly an identity and address proof and not a kinship proof. He also advised officials to use other documents, such as birth certificates or family registers, to verify relationships.
In particular, the notification said that details like ‘C/o’ or ‘W/o’ in the Aadhaar card should not be considered as legal proof of relationship.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
The UP Registration Department states that Aadhaar serves strictly as proof of identity and address and not as proof of family relationships.
Aadhaar is not considered proof of citizenship as it does not convey any rights of citizenship or residence; it’s just a proof of identity.
Family relationships should be verified using other documents such as birth certificates or family registers, as Aadhaar is not a legal proof of relationship.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship, and emphasized its role in facilitating travel, not establishing citizenship.
No, citizens should not rely on Aadhaar to assert their citizenship; instead, official documents such as naturalization or registration certificates are necessary to prove citizenship.
Read also | DFS plans stricter aadhaar checks, staggered results in bank exams
A circular issued by the Inspector General of Registration, Uttar Pradesh, on June 19 to all Assistant Inspectors General of Registration has instructed officials not to rely solely on Aadhaar to verify family relationships in applications, registration works or other administrative matters.
Aadhaar is an identity document, not citizenship
It may be noted that the UIDAI has clarified that while the Aadhaar number is an identity document, it does not confer any right of citizenship or residence in relation to the Aadhaar number holder. The Supreme Court has also clarified in various cases that Aadhaar card is valid strictly as proof of identity and not as proof of citizenship or permanent residence.
Read also | Why is Aadhaar not considered as proof of date of birth? UIDAI explains
The government is clarifying the range of passports
Meanwhile, following the controversy surrounding the MEA official’s comment, government sources on Thursday said the passport was never proof of citizenship and the Modi government had not taken any new decision on the document in the last 12 years.
Under the Passport Act, 1967, passports can also be issued to non-citizens, sources told PTI.
“It was not decided yesterday that a passport is not a document of citizenship. It has not even been decided in the last 12 years. A passport has never been a document of citizenship,” the source said.
Read also | Passport Row: Mahua Moitra slams Center over MEA clarification
Official sources indicate that the judgments of the Bombay High Court in 2013 made it clear that a passport is not a proof of citizenship.
During a hearing on the Election Commission, which was conducting a special intensive revision of electoral rolls, the Supreme Court observed that Aadhaar was not an irrefutable proof of citizenship but only an identity proof.
On 20 December 2019, the Government of India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a comprehensive clarification through a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
It said: “Citizenship can be proved by presenting any documents related to date of birth and place of birth. However, a decision on such acceptable documents has not yet been taken.”
Read also | “Can non-citizens get an Indian passport?” Netizens are asking what citizenship proves
The PIB also stated in the FAQs that the citizenship of any person is decided based on the Citizenship Rules 2009. These rules are based on the Citizenship Act 1955.
It states five ways for any person to become a citizen of India, citizenship by birth, citizenship by descent, citizenship by registration, citizenship by naturalization and citizenship by incorporation.
