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2025 Supreme(Online)(Del) 47419
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Sachin Datta, J
Arjun Khatri – Appellant
Versus
Unique Identification Authority of India – Respondent
W.P.(C) 19173/2025|CM APPL. 79828/2025|CM APPL. 79829/2025
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Darpan Wadhwa, Sahil Khurana, Anoushka Bhalla, Shelly Dixit, Tracy Sebistian, Nishtha Rawat
For the Respondents: Shraddha Deshmukh, Sanchit Singh, Sarthak Gupta, Abhinav Sharma, Shubham, Parth Goswami
A student cannot be denied participation in a sports event for lack of an Aadhaar card if alternative valid age-proof documents are provided and the Aadhaar enrolment is processed, as the primary objective is age verification.
Headnote:A petition was filed by a minor sportsperson seeking direction for expedited issuance of Aadhaar and permission to participate in the 69th National School Games (Hockey U-14 Boys Championship 2025-26). The petitioner had submitted a Birth Certificate, Passport, and Bonafide Certificate, but faced hurdles due to a conflicting requirement in a circular issued by the School Games Federation of India, where one clause allowed alternative documents for eligibility while another made Aadhaar mandatory. The core issue was whether the absence of a physical Aadhaar card should impede a student's participation in a national sports event when alternative age-proof documents were available and the Aadhaar enrolment process was already underway. The court observed that the primary purpose of the documentation is to ascertain the age of the child, which was clearly established by the Birth Certificate. The petition is disposed of with directions to the UIDAI to complete the issuance of the Aadhaar Card within 48 hours and to the SGFI to ensure the petitioner is permitted to participate in the tournament without impediment.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. eligibility for sports competitions can be established via multiple alternative identity documents. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7) |
| 2. the primary purpose of eligibility documentation is the verification of age. (Para 8 , 9) |
| 3. administrative delays in aadhaar generation should not penalize the individual's rights. (Para 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 17) |
| 4. courts may order expedited issuance of government ids to prevent loss of opportunity. (Para 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21) |
O R D E R
1. The petitioner is a minor, aged about 13 years, studying in The Heritage School, Rohini, Delhi, affiliated to CBSE. The petitioner has filed the present petition, through his father.
2. The petitioner, being a talented hockey player, has been selected to represent Delhi in 69th National School Games (Hockey U-14 Boys Championship 2025-26) to be held from 22.12.2025 to 27.12.2025.
3. It is submitted that the petitioner has submitted the requisite documents including (i) Certificate of Eligibility; (ii) Bonafide Certificate (both issued by his School); (iii) Birth Certificate issued by MCD, and (iv) Copy of Passport as Identity Proof issued by Government of India.
4. It is submitted that despite the petitioner submitting the requisite documents, during the training camp, the petitioner was additionally asked to provide his Aadhaar details. It is submitted that since the petitioner did not have Aadhaar issued in his name, he enrolled for Aadhaar on 06.12.2025 at the concerned Aadhar Centre vide Enrolment number 0811/07986/03477.
5. Attention is drawn to the fact that, in the relevant Circular dated 30.10.2025, issued by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), the list of relevant documents which are required to be given in support of eligibility are prescribed as under:
“(15) Eligibility:-
....
(b) Eligibility/Age Certificate: It is mandatory for all players to have AADHAAR No. /10th class mark sheet/ Date of Birth Certificate (should be issued minimum 5 years before), Official Entry & eligibility forms in new format duly signed/attested by the head of the institution/ principal & counter signature by the competent authority of State/Unit/UT. The team manager will be responsible for bringing the eligibility/birth certificate of the participants, which are to be handed over to the organizing committee. In tournament only official entry form signed by the competent authority of State/UT/Unit will be acceptable. In the lack of this signed official entry form, it is not possible to participate in the tournament & issue the merit/participation certificate.”
6. It is evident from the above that in terms of the aforesaid prescription, it is sufficient for an eligible sportsperson to have an ‘Aadhaar’ OR a ‘10th Class Marksheet’ OR a ‘Date of Birth Certificate’.
7. The petitioner already has the requisite ‘Date of Birth Certificate’ which has already been submitted to the concerned authority. However, in contravention of the stipulation in Paragraph 15(B), Paragraph 19 of the same said Circular contemplates that a copy of Aadhaar is mandatorily required to be furnished by the petitioner.
8. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner submits that the same is ex-facie untenable as the purport of submission of the relevant documents is only to ascertain the age of the concerned child, which can be ascertained from the Birth Certificate of the child.
9. In the present case, there is no manner of doubt as to the date of birth of the concerned child as the same is evident from his Birth Certificate, as also from the requisite documents issued by the school of the petitioner.
10. It is further pointed out that the deadline for the purpose of submission of documents, in order to participate in the aforementioned 69th National School Games, is about to expire.
11. In the above conspectus, the present petition has been filed seeking the following prayers:
“i. Issue a direction to Respondent No.1 (UIDAI) to immediately process and complete the Aadha
