Own Aadhaar enrolment documents not 'information' under RTI; access to own data via online portals only; third-party Aadhaar data non-disclosable except by superior court order; Aadhaar Act prohibitions prevail over RTI.

Headnote:(A) Right to Information Act, 2005 - Sections 2(f), 19 - Aadhaar Act, 2016 - Sections 28(5), 33(1); Aadhaar Regulations, 2016 - Requests for certified copies of own enrolment documents, supporting documents, authentication/subsidy details linked to own or third-party Aadhaar numbers, and procedures for accessing such information - Enrolment documents submitted by applicant do not qualify as 'information' under Section 2(f) as they are applicant's own documents; access to own limited Aadhaar-related information available only via online portals/mobile apps using biometric/OTP authentication; disclosure of third-party Aadhaar information (even to claimed legal heir) prohibited except by order of court not inferior to High Court; such information stored in CIDR is confidential and non-disclosable under Section 28(5) notwithstanding other laws; Aadhaar Act's non-obstante provisions prevail - CPIO/FAA responses directing use of self-service mechanisms upheld as timely and complete. (Paras 1-8)

(B) Information Access - Self-submitted documents - Not 'information' available with public authority; applicant must retain own copies and cannot claim right to certified reproductions from authority. (Para 7, citing High Court verdict)

Facts of the case:
Appellant filed three RTI applications seeking certified copies of own and deceased uncle's Aadhaar numbers, enrolment forms, supporting documents, and details of government subsidies/facilities linked thereto; also sought procedures/departments for accessing Aadhaar information under various regulations for specific area - CPIO denied citing statutory prohibitions and directed use of online portals; FAA upheld; appeals clubbed before Commission.

Findings of Court:
Queries appropriately answered; no violation of timelines or law; self-service mechanisms suffice for own information; third-party disclosure barred; no Commission intervention needed.

Issues: Whether own enrolment documents qualify as disclosable information; entitlement to subsidy/authentication details; procedures for Aadhaar information access; legal heir rights to deceased's Aadhaar data without court order or co-heir NOC.

Ratio Decidendi: Aadhaar data confidential under Section 28(5); own documents not 'information' under RTI; access limited to authenticated self-service; third-party disclosure only per Section 33(1); RTI yields to specific Aadhaar Act prohibitions.

Result: Appeals dismissed.

Table of Content
1. rti request for own aadhaar details and subsidies denied (Para 1)
2. procedures for aadhaar access and authentication provided (Para 2)
3. legal heir rti for deceased's aadhaar rejected (Para 3)
4. parties reiterate positions on information access (Para 4 , 5)
5. aadhaar data confidential under section 28(5) (Para 6)
6. cpio responses upheld; no rti intervention needed (Para 7 , 8)

ORDER

Second Appeal No. CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140644

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 21.08.2024 seeking information on the following points:

A) Kindly provide me the certified copy by post/hand/online of the following: 1) Aadhaar No. 3273XXXXX of myself i.e. Manoj Sharma S/o Balkrishan Sharma, 2) Aadhaar registration form with all supporting documents as submitted by Aadhaar Holder on getting himself registered for said Aadhaar Number, B) Kindly also provide me the detail information of government subsidy/facility name, amount and date when the said Aadhaar No. is used and utilized for any such government subsides/facilities till date.

1.1. The CPIO replied vide letter dated 05.09.2024 and the same is reproduced as under :-

1.2. Dissatisfied with the response received from the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 18.09.2024 alleging that the information provided was incomplete, false and misleading. The FAA vide order dated 03.10.2024 upheld the reply given by the CPIO.

1.3. Aggrieved and dissatisfied, the Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal dated 16.12.2024.

1.4. A written submission dated 23.02.2026 has been received from the CPIO and same has been taken on record for perusal. The relevant extract whereof is as under: “..6. Now, the appellant has approached Hon'ble CIC on the following grounds a) Information and details not provided till date and within specified time.

b) Inappropriate and unjustified reasons to delay or to provide the required information Response (for a and b): The reply to RTI application dt. 21.8.2024 was provided to the applicant-appellant on 5-9-2024 and the reply to RTI Appeal dt. 18-9-2024 was provided on 3.10.2024 i.e. within the time limit prescribed in the RTI Act, 2005 and it is evident that there was no delay.

c) Direct or Indirect violation of legal heir(s) civil as well as constitutional rights which includes with others speech, expression, liberty, life etc.

d) The PIO as well as First Appellate Authority based their decision(s) on law/or/and fact which are non-relevant to the appellant's case e) The absence of accountability and transparency existed in the functioning of public authority which leading to anarchy in dealings of citizens related and relevant information/data.

Response (for c. d and e): The CPIO has just acted in accordance with the provision of RTI Act, 2005 as well as Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016) as amended from time to time.

In view of the above, it is requested to Hon'ble Information Commissioner to kindly consider the above-mentioned facts while hearing the case…”

1.5. A written submission dated 24.02.2026 has been received from the Appellant and same has been taken on record for perusal.

Second Appeal No. CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140646

2. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 18.09.2024 seeking information on the following points:

Kindly provide me the information and details as: A) Procedure for making requests for access information B) Person or Department in- charge to wham such requests can be made having jurisdiction over the area named Tehsil Shimla (Rural) District Shimla (HP) under the Regulations mentioned below to access, get and obtain the relevant Aadhaar related information

1. Regulation 9 (c) of Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulation, 2016, 2. Regulation 3 (2) (c) and 32 (2) of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies Benefits and Services) Regulation, 2016, 3. Regulation 3 (3) and 4(3) of Aadhaar (Sharing of Information) Regulation, 2016, 4. Oth

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2026 Supreme(Online)(CIC) 3246

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSIONP R Ramesh, CommissionerManoj Sharma – AppellantVersusCPIO: Unique Identification Authority of India – RespondentSecond Appeal No. CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140644|CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140646|CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140812

Own Aadhaar enrolment documents not 'information' under RTI; access to own data via online portals only; third-party Aadhaar data non-disclosable except by superior court order; Aadhaar Act prohibitions prevail over RTI.

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
P R Ramesh, Commissioner
Manoj Sharma – Appellant
Versus
CPIO: Unique Identification Authority of India – Respondent
Second Appeal No. CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140644|CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140646|CIC/UIDAI/A/2024/140812