It is known that the Telangana High Court is hearing the cases related to the Dharani Portal and had passed orders against a plea challenging government’s decision to seek Aadhaar and caste data from family members trying to register non-agricultural lands. A bench comprising of judges Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and B Vijaysen Reddy made it clear that the govt cannot seek such details from citizens. It may be recollected that the Advocate General (AG) BS Prasad on behalf of the Telangana government had informed the Court that no personal details of citizens would be sought and that the registration would be done using CARD system.
“It’s a clever ploy by the State in asking for Aadhaar and caste details from citizens, despite the State Advocate General assuring the court that such information will not be sought. It is surreptitious behaviour on the part of the State. The government cannot be permitted to seek such details in any manner even after giving an undertaking before the court. All the undertakings given should be in the form of an affidavit,” judges Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and B Vijaysen Reddy told AG BS Prasad.