PIL Seeks Stricter Norms to Prevent Misuse by Infiltrators
May 4, 2026: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a plea on May 4 seeking stricter rules for issuing Aadhaar cards, especially for adolescents and adults. The petition urges the Unique Identification Authority of India to issue new Aadhaar cards only to children up to six years of age and frame tighter verification guidelines to prevent misuse.
Filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, the Public Interest Litigation also seeks display boards at common service centres clarifying that Aadhaar is only proof of identity and not of citizenship, address, or date of birth. The plea names multiple government bodies, including Union ministries, arguing that Aadhaar has increasingly become a foundational document for accessing other identity proofs.
The petition raises concerns that weak verification processes allow infiltrators to obtain Aadhaar by posing as Indian citizens, thereby accessing benefits and documents meant for citizens. It also questions whether the Aadhaar Act, 2016, has failed to keep pace with its intended purpose, warning that misuse could undermine welfare delivery and lead to diversion of public resources.