Publishing of Aadhar No. Bank Account No. with demographic information on Online – Compliance of the IT Act, 2000 & Aadhar Act, 2016

No. 10(36)12015-EG-II (Vol-V)

Government of India

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology

e-Governance Group

Electronics Niketan,

6, CGO Complex,

Lodhi Road

New Delhi – 110003

Dated: 25.03.2017

Office Memorandum

It has come to notice that there have been instances wherein personal identity or information of residents, including Aadhaar number and demographic information, and other sensitive personal data such as bank account details etc. collected by various Ministries/Departments, State Government Departments, in the administration of its various welfare schemes etc. has been reportedly published online and is accessible through an easy online search.

The said act of publishing identity information i.e. Aadhaar number along with demographic information such as name, date of birth, address etc. is in clear contravention of the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, more specifically Section 29 (2), Section 29 (3) and 29 (4) and constitutes an offence under Sections 37, 40 & 41 punishable with imprisonment upto 3 years.

Further, publishing of financial information including bank account details, being sensitive personal data, is also in contravention of provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Rules framed thereunder, more specifically Rule 3 & Rule 6 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal data or Information) Rules, 2011 and constitutes an offence under Section 43 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the offending parties are liable to pay damages by way of compensation to persons affected.

In view of the above, it is hereby informed that any act of publishing personal identity or information i.e. Aadhaar number and demographic details alongwith personal sensitive information such as bank details, in contravention of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 may be refrained with immediate effect. Further, any such content already published and still appearing publicly may be discontinued with immediate effect.

Archana Dureja

Scientist ‘F’

Phone: 011-24362528