Is Delhi LG’s Secretariat Cracking Down on Illegal Aadhaar Card Issues?

New Delhi, July 11 (NationPress) - The Secretariat of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has issued a directive to the city government, mandating the elimination of third-party vendors involved in the production of Aadhaar cards. Tasks related to enrolment and updates are to be limited to facilities operated by the Registrar’s own personnel.

In a communication sent to Chief Secretary Dharmendra, the LG Secretariat emphasized the need for stringent adherence to regulations concerning Aadhaar card issuance in Delhi. This move follows alarming reports indicating that a significant number of unauthorized immigrants have been acquiring the 12-digit identification and residency proof.

The advisory pointed out that these illegally obtained Aadhaar cards pose a dual threat: they compromise national security while also negatively affecting local job prospects. Furthermore, they allow unauthorized immigrants to access government welfare programs, although terms like Bangladeshis or Rohingyas were conspicuously omitted in the communication.

This letter surfaces during a period when the Delhi Police is actively pursuing the deportation of illegal immigrants, specifically targeting Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Numerous cases have emerged where detainees confessed to illicitly obtaining Aadhaar cards to benefit from government welfare initiatives.

Delhi’s Food and Supplies Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, revealed to IANS that the BJP administration is committed to taking decisive action against illegal migrants, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

“These individuals will not be permitted to settle in Delhi under any circumstances. Unlike the previous AAP government, which allegedly granted them leniency, we are dedicated to taking action. Ensuring Delhi’s safety is our utmost priority, regardless of any criticism we may encounter,” he stated.

In its correspondence to the Chief Secretary, the LG Secretariat insisted on rigorous enforcement of rules by Registrars concerning Aadhaar card issuance and instructed them to transition to an in-house model, eliminating third-party vendors within two months.

The Chief Secretary was also tasked with compiling a detailed list of all Aadhaar enrolment centers in Delhi by July 15, along with enhancing supervision of field-level implementation and verification processes as mandated by the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations 2016.

These regulations, established by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), outline the necessary procedures, software, hardware, and security protocols for Registrars and enrolling agencies to follow.

The LG’s office further mandated a monthly audit of all Aadhaar centers, overseen by the Divisional Commissioner, to ensure that unauthorized individuals with illegitimate Aadhaar cards do not exploit the welfare benefits provided by the Delhi government.

Additionally, the LG’s Secretariat highlighted that numerous security breaches had been identified, where illegal migrants managed to obtain Aadhaar cards using fraudulent documentation.