‘Impossible,’ UIDAI Tells Madras High Court on Using Aadhaar Data to Identify Unclaimed Body

In a recent affidavit filed before the Madras High Court, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made it clear that it cannot assist the Tamil Nadu Police in identifying an unidentified deceased person using Aadhaar fingerprint data.

Responding to a writ petition (criminal) filed by the State of Tamil Nadu, represented by a Deputy Superintendent of Police from Tindivanam Sub Division, Villupuram district, the UIDAI stated that both legal and technological constraints prevent it from comparing the fingerprints of the deceased with its biometric database.

“It is not possible for Unique Identification Authority of India to compare the sample fingerprints of the deceased with the finger print data of UIDAI and provide the information to the Petitioner, as the same is impossible,” the affidavit said, citing provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and the limitations of its biometric systems.

The UIDAI Deputy Director Priya Sreekumar clarified that biometric data collection, including iris scans and fingerprints, is not based on technologies suitable for forensic use. The Aadhaar system supports only 1:1 biometric authentication, which requires the Aadhaar number of an individual to match their own stored biometric data—something not feasible in the case of an unidentified deceased person.

"Biometric authentication can be done only by an Aadhaar Number Holder by providing his Aadhaar Number and along with his live biometric information for verification on the authentication system as provided under the Aadhaar Regulations. The authentication takes place once the Aadhaar database recognizes the identity of the Aadhaar Number Holder with that of his biometric information stored in a binary mode in the Aadhaar data base," the affidavit stated.

Further, the affidavit pointed out that the fingerprints taken from deceased individuals are often static and collected via paper or other materials, which cannot be matched with Aadhaar’s biometric database due to technological limitations.

UIDAI also submitted that its actions and policies do not violate any individual’s fundamental rights or statutory obligations.

The affidavit further emphasised that "disclosure of any Information without giving an opportunity of hearing to the concerned Aadhaar number holder would be in violation of Article 20(3) of the Constitution as well as the privacy rights or other rights of that person(s).

The police approached the court seeking a direction to UIDAI to provide the demographic details of an unidentified body using its fingerprints.

After taking the counter affidavit on record, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan directed the High Court Registry to list the case for further hearing on June 12.