Indore: Collector office arbitrarily links Aadhaar to RTI

Free Press Journal: Indore: Tuesday, September 19, 2017.

Acting beyond its powers and stoking a potential controversy, Indore district collector office arbitrarily linked Aadhaar to Right to Information Act even when there is no provision for the same in the rulebook. The incident came to fore when district administration replied to an RTI application.

“I had filed an RTI application at collectorate seeking information on some subjects. But, I was shocked when I was asked to attach a photocopy of my Aadhaar card along with the application. On enquiring why it was required, I was told that it has been made mandatory by the government,” RTI activist Siddharth Khandelwal said.

Knowing there was no such rule in the Act, Khandelwal sought a copy of the order from the official, which shows it mandatory to attach Aadhaar card with an RTI application. But, what came in response from district administration stunned him. He was provided with a copy of a collector’s order dated 5-12-2016, stating the government had directed to link all government welfare schemes with Aadhaar card.

To one’s wonder, while the government’s direction was for associating government schemes with Aadhaar card, the then collector P Narahari made it compulsory to provide photocopy of Aadhaar card along with all types of applications. Order issued by the collector reads: “In view of the government directions, it appears necessary to also make it compulsory to take Xerox copy of Aadhaar cards along with all types of applications filed at government offices.”

The order further states: “This move will not only encourage people to get Aadhaar cards but also help manage and process application forms at government offices. Duplicity could also be checked through this system.” Taking a dig at the then district collector, Khandelwal said that the officer acted beyond his powers and made a rule, which was neither stipulated by RTI Act nor the government. The RTI Act clearly stipulates an applicant only needs to submit his or her phone number and address along with the application.