UIDAI approach to link property with Aadhaar number to prevent black money, Delhi HC seeks clarification.

On October 15, the Delhi High Court sought the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) response on the demand to link movable and immovable property documents with the Aadhaar number to prevent corruption, black money and benami transactions.

UIDAI, which issues a 12-digit unique identification number called Adhaar, received a notice from a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar and sought an answer on the matter before November 20 which is the next date of hearing.

The court also asked the Delhi government and the Centre to file their response, which they had not despite issuance of notice to them on July 16. BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay implored the authority in the petition after it moved the court asking to be heard in the matter.

Upadhyay, also a lawyer, said in his plea that it is the state’s duty to take effective steps to curb corruption and seize ‘benami’ properties made by illegal means to send out a strong message that the government is determined to fight corruption and black money.

“If the government links property to Aadhaar, it will lead to an increase of 2% in annual growth. It will clean up the electoral process, dominated by black money and benami transactions and flourishing on a cycle of large black investments using political strength to amass private wealth, all with citizens’ disdain,” the petition said.

The plea states that a high denomination currency for “benami” transaction is used in illegal activities – terrorism naxalism, separatism, gambling, money laundering and bribing.

“It also inflates the cost of essential goods and of major assets such as real estate and gold. Such problems can be significantly curbed by connecting movable-immovable properties with the Aadhar number of owner’s,” he added.