Hyderabad: T State sees first case of 'Prove Your Citizenship'

Nampally: Following a notice from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to a resident of Talabkatta, social media went into a tizzy, setting off alarm bells. This prompted the Advocates TS JAC to hold a press conference, wherein they said they would take the matter to the notice of High Court.

Putting the onus of proving citizenship on him and his family, a resident of Talab Katta received notice from UIDAI, following some anonymous complaint. The authority, as part of inquiry, summoned him on February 20. This incident raised doubts that the UIDAI might have issued notices to several other people.

Lawyer Muzafferullah Khan who went through the notice and took up this case said that his client would attend the inquiry as per the UIDAI notice on February 20 and submit all documents and also the UIDAI notice would be challenged in the Telangana High Court.

Meanwhile, Amjedullah Khan, the spokesman of MBT, claimed that he had personally checked all documents of the individual and his entire family. "All belong to Hyderabad and all are having ration cards, EPICs, passports and, moreover, his father has worked in a PSU and his mother is a pensioner," he added.

As per the notice received by the UIDAI regional office, it was mentioned that the office received a complaint that the individual in question was not an Indian national. "You have obtained Aadhaar through false pretenses, making false claims and submitting false documents. For enquiry directed to appear before the undersigned / Enquiry officer with all the necessary documents in original to prove all your claims of citizenship and if you are not an Indian National, to prove that you have entered the territory of Indian legally and your stay is valid," it reads.

"If failure to appear in person/produce the documents in original to substantiate your claims will be construed that you have no defense against the said complaint / allegation and the matter shall be decided Suo moto. Accordingly, the Aadhaar no xxxx - xxxx - 3722 will be deactivated in terms of Rule. 29 of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations 2016," it adds.

The Advocates JAC felt that serving of such impingent notices by the UIDAI to innocent Citizens at a time when people were already restless with regard to NPR and NRC would cause further confusion, anxiety and worries among the citizens. "Advocates TS-JAC is committed to extend all its support and legal aid to the aggrieved persons on this subject and will also initiate for every steps to protect citizen's fundamental rights," they added.

I have personally checked all documents of the individual and his entire family. All belong to Hyderabad and all are having ration cards, EPICs, passports and, moreover, his father has worked in a PSU and his mother is a pensioner

– Amjedullah Khan, the spokesman of MBT