Delhi HC Asks Centre, Govt To Decide On Linking Properties To Aadhaar

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Centre, Delhi government, and relevant authorities to make a decision regarding a public interest litigation urging the linking of Aadhaar with the property documents.

Justices Rajiv Shakdhar and Girish Kathpalia presided over the bench, instructing the respondents to resolve the matter within 3 months.

The plea, filed by the BJP Leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, sought a directive to connect movable & immovable property documents with Aadhaar numbers.

The court treated the plea as a representation and mandated a decision within the specified 3-months period.

Previously, a bench included the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Law as parties, allowing additional time for the Delhi government and the Home Ministry to articulate their stance.

The court, in a prior notice to the respondents also directed the petitioner to amend the petition by involving more relevant ministries.

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the petitioner and BJP Leader, urged the central and Delhi governments to take measures to link property documents with citizens’ Aadhaar numbers to combat corruption, black money generation, and benami transactions.

The plea highlighted the potential benefits, stating that linking property with Aadhaar could lead to a 2% increase in annual growth and clean up the electoral process plagued by black money and benami transactions.

The petitioner emphasized the inadequacy of India’s implementation of legislation, citing the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act of 1988.

Despite subsequent amendments in 2016, the plea noted slow progress in catching benami properties.

The plea argued that it is the state’s duty to take appropriate steps to combat corruption, seize illegally acquired benami properties, and send a strong message that the government is committed to fighting corruption and black money.

The plea called for executive action to warn corrupt individuals, affirm the rule of law, and promote transparency.