Aadhar card is very important in India. Everyone asks for the Aadhaar card number or its photocopy from time to time. But is it so important to give Aadhaar card information? Whether you check-in in at a hotel, submit documents for a trip, in a private office, for school admission, or while taking a PG or a house on rent, an Aadhaar card is asked for, but do you know that is illegal?

Now Aadhaar has been linked with a bank account, PAN etc. then its information can be used for any fraud or scam. That's why you should avoid giving your Aadhaar card information so easily.

We have many such legal rights which we are unaware of.

We spoke to Supreme Court lawyer Ravi S Gupta to know about the legal rights related to the Aadhaar card. Ravi has been practising in other High Courts and the Supreme Court of the country for 7 years.

Supreme Court order regarding Aadhaar card

According to Advocate Ravi, this decision was given by the Supreme Court in Justice KS Puttaswamy Vs Union of India case in 2018. Here are the main points of this judgement-

  • Metadata of Aadhaar cannot be stored for more than 6 months.
  • No private organization can ask for Aadhaar details from its customers.
  • This includes banks, mobile companies, schools, e-wallets etc.
  • You can use a mask aadhar card.
  • Private companies will provide you with all the services even after the mask's Aadhaar card.
  • Private companies cannot refuse to provide service in the name of Aadhaar.
  • If any organization or person does this, then a legal complaint can be made against it.

Where is the Aadhaar card very important?

  • For income tax returns and any kind of government transaction.
  • For welfare schemes.
  • For government subsidy.
  • For ministry-related work.

What is Masked Aadhaar Card?

Masked Aadhaar is just like a normal Aadhaar card. It contains information like name, address, date of birth, gender, QR code etc. However, only the last four digits of the masked Aadhaar card are visible. You can use it like an Aadhaar card.

Where to get a Masked Aadhaar Card?

You can download its masked version like an Aadhaar card from the official website of UIDAI. However, it will be downloaded only if your mobile number is linked with an Aadhaar card. How to download Masked Aadhaar Card-

  • Go to the official website of UIDAI and click on 'Download Aadhaar'.
  • Here many options will open in front of you. You have to select the option 'Aadhaar/VID/Enrollment ID' in the 'I Have' section only.
  • After this, you have to choose the option 'Masked Aadhaar Card'.
  • A form will open in front of you in which you have to share the information related to your Aadhaar card. A pop-up will appear informing you that your Aadhaar is being used for service records and personal authentication. Here you have to click on 'I Agree'.
  • Now one-time password will come on your mobile number and you have to confirm it.
  • After this, you can download Maxed Aadhaar Card.

Masked Aadhaar will open with a password

You have to keep in mind that the file that will be downloaded from UIDAI will be password protected. You have to enter a special password to open it.

The first four letters of your name, for example if the name is ALEKH, ALEK and your year of birth will be ED. In this case, your password can be ALEK1990.