On 18th December 2023, the Government of Gujarat introduced the Gujarat Registration (Identity Verification for the Registration of Documents) Rules, 2023. These rules emphasize the validity and utilization of the Consent-based Aadhaar Authentication Service.
The Rules, acknowledge the Consent-based Aadhaar Authentication Service as a means to fulfill the requirements of the Registration Act, 1908. This service allows individuals appearing before the registering officer to utilize their Aadhaar details for identity verification, streamlining the registration process.
The Rules outline the procedure for utilizing the Consent-based Aadhaar Authentication Service. First, explicit consent is obtained from the person in electronic or paper format. Once consent is granted, the person’s 12-digit Aadhaar number and fingerprint or iris scan are entered into the UIDAI system through registration software. The authentication process then returns the Consent-based Aadhaar Authentication data, which is stored securely for future reference.
To ensure the identity of the party involved, the rules confer power upon the registering officer. If a third party’s identity has been verified through the Consent-based Aadhaar Authentication Service, the officer will not examine any other persons. In other cases, the officer may examine individuals whose identity has been verified through this service, cross-checking the information with the UIDAI system.
The Rules highlight that the information generated through the Consent-based Aadhaar Authentication Service fulfills the requirements of identification as to the identity of the persons appearing before the registering officer and to satisfy himself that the persons appearing before him are the persons they represent themselves to be. This recognition, in conjunction with the Information Technology Act in regards to the electronic records and signatures which eases the burden of identification for the executant.
These rules shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
