Jharkhand High Court Directs UIDAI to Disclose Aadhaar Details of Human Trafficking Victim

In a landmark ruling, the Jharkhand High Court has ordered the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to disclose the Aadhaar details of a missing human trafficking victim to the police. This decision is aimed at helping trace the victim, who has been missing since 2014.

Key Legal Provisions Involved

The Court's directive was based on Section 33(1) of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which grants the High Court the authority to order the disclosure of Aadhaar-related information. This includes sensitive data such as identity information or authentication records, but only after giving a hearing to UIDAI and the Aadhaar card holder.

However, in this particular case, the victim is missing and cannot be heard, prompting the Court to bypass this requirement.

Substantive Justice Over Technicalities

The Bench, led by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, emphasized that substantive justice must take precedence over technicalities. They noted that disclosing the Aadhaar information could assist the police in locating the victim and provide much-needed closure to the parents, who have been searching for their child for over a decade.

Human Trafficking and National Security Concerns

The Court also highlighted that human trafficking is not just a criminal issue but also a matter of national security. It raised concerns that trafficked minors might be exploited in ways that threaten the future of the nation. The Court observed that such activities could potentially involve these children in dangerous activities that jeopardize the country’s security.

Balancing Privacy with Justice

This ruling underscores the Court's commitment to balancing privacy concerns with the need for justice in cases involving vulnerable individuals, particularly in situations like human trafficking, where urgent action is required.

This ruling is a significant step in reinforcing how courts can effectively handle privacy laws while ensuring justice in cases that involve human rights and national security.