Kerala High Court Rules Digi Yatra Cannot Mandate Aadhaar as Identity Proof
The Kerala High Court has ruled that the Digi Yatra portal cannot insist on Aadhaar details as a mandatory proof of identity. The court directed the Digi Yatra authorities to inform it whether any other identity document would be sufficient for registration on the portal.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Syam Kumar observed that Aadhaar may not be necessary for establishing identity if a person possesses other valid documents. The court's prima facie view came after the Airports Authority of India argued that Digi Yatra is a voluntary service and that Aadhaar is used solely for identity verification.
The PIL sought to ensure that the collection, storage, processing, and transmission of passengers' sensitive personal data at airports comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025. The court's observation aligns with concerns over mandatory Aadhaar usage, which has been a subject of debate regarding privacy and data protection.
Digi Yatra is a biometric-based digital entry system introduced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to enable paperless travel at airports. It uses facial recognition technology and currently requires Aadhaar for identity verification. However, the Kerala High Court's stance questions this practice, noting that the Aadhaar Act does not mandate its use for such services.
The court has given Digi Yatra time to respond on alternative identity proofs, such as passports, driving licenses, or voter ID cards. The next hearing is expected to address whether the system can accept these documents. The ruling has implications for privacy and the extent to which Aadhaar can be compelled for non-statutory services.
