The Delhi High Court has suggested using an OTP verification instead of biometric authentication, reports PTI. The HC made this suggestion during a hearing on the misuse of the Aadhaar verification system by mobile shop owners to issue SIM cards. The court has also asked the Centre, Delhi government and UIDAI to file their response to the report and listed the matter for hearing on February 12. This is a follow up on the suo motu PIL which was filed in the Delhi HC in September seeking the response of the UIDAI, MeitY, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The order came in response to the arrest of a mobile shop owner in New Delhi who was allegedly using the Aadhaar biometric verification process to issue new SIM cards without the consent or knowledge of customers. The booked individual was further using the SIM cards to defraud individuals with regard to their LIC life insurance policies. The current suggestion was provided by the amicus curae, a party which assists the court by offering information or expertise in the case, as a part of their report to plug the loopholes in Aadhaar authentication system. Here, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and advocate Rushab Aggarwal were appointed as amicus curiae. They submitted a joint report to two judge bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice IS Mehta In their report, they said: OTP authentication should be the preferred method instead of biometrics because the security concerns in the latter are more pronounced and loopholes easily accessible. Biometrics should be requested…
