Multiple people can do thumbprint based biometric authentication for single Aadhaar number: UIDAI says in Court

A single thumbprint scanning of an Aadhaar holder has possibilities to match multiple persons, said the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

The above statement was put forth by UIDAI Counsel Zoheb Hussain in Delhi High Court in a response to a petition seeking to use Aadhaar biometrics to identify unidentified bodies.

The petition was filed by Amit Sahni, who sought directions to all states, NCRB, and the centres to scan biometrics of unidentified bodies or missing persons to find if there is already existing biometrics details.

There should be special courts for speedy disposal of cases pertaining to unidentified dead bodies under Aadhaar Act on the same day or the next day, irrespective of the holiday. The information will go long way in helping affected families and reduce the burden on the state in disposing of the unidentified bodies, added the petition.

Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V.K. Rao, who were hearing the case, asked UIDAI to explain about any such possibility with Aadhaar database, said the Hindu report.  

In order to identify anybody, all fingers prints along with Aadhaar number is required. Matching of biometric is done on a one-on-one basis. It is technically impossible to match the fingerprints of an unidentified body with the biometrics of 120 crore people, said UIDAI.

Last month, during a case related to unidentified dead woman UIDAI to Bombay High Court, had said that a missing person or unclaimed bodies cannot be identified or searched using the Aadhaar database. The court accepted the UIDAI response in the case that said 'matching of fingerprints will not be accepted by the system unless the Aadhaar number is provided'.

Earlier in September, the Supreme Court had struck down Aadhaar's linking with bank accounts, mobile phones and school admissions clause.