Aadhaar card is not a proof of Indian citizenship, the Calcutta High Court has ruled, while rejecting a claim of citizenship on the ground that the accused possessed Aadhaar card.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi was considering bail plea of a person who was booked under Section 14F of the Indian Foreigners Act, who had contended that she is an Indian citizen and that the Aadhaar card was issued in view of long residence of the petitioner in the country.

The court referred to provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, and said that the Aadhaar card by itself shall not confer any right of or be proof of, citizenship or domicile in respect of the holder thereto. The court also held that the letter issued by the representative of the local body as to the residence of the petitioner also does not, ipso facto, confer citizenship on the petitioner.

Rejecting the bail plea of the accused, the court said materials collected during investigation prima facie showed that the petitioner was a foreign national.

Read the Judgment here.

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