The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) recently issued a circular (No: WSU/2024/1/UIDAI Matter/4090) on January 16, 2024, announcing the removal of Aadhaar from the list of acceptable documents as proof of date of birth (DoB). This directive follows the UIDAI’s Circular No. 08 of 2023.
UIDAI’s Directive: UIDAI emphasized that Aadhaar, while serving as a unique identifier, does not constitute proof of date of birth according to the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Consequently, EPFO responded by removing Aadhaar from the list of acceptable documents for correcting the date of birth.
Legal Implications: UIDAI’s directive aligns with the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and related regulations, which state that Aadhaar cannot be considered as proof of date of birth. Recent legal judgments, including those from the Bombay High Court, further reinforce this stance.
Communication and Implementation: UIDAI’s directive was communicated to all Authentication User Agencies (AUAs) and Know Your Customer User Agencies (KUAs) through Circular No. 08 of 2023. EPFO’s circular was disseminated to all relevant departments and offices for widespread implementation.
Internal Modifications: EPFO instructed its Internal System Division (ISD) to make necessary modifications in the application software to align with the updated guidelines. This ensures that Aadhaar is no longer accepted as proof of date of birth within EPFO’s systems.
Conclusion: The removal of Aadhaar as proof of date of birth by EPFO reflects a policy change in line with UIDAI directives and legal precedents. The necessary modifications in EPFO’s systems ensure compliance with the updated guidelines, safeguarding the accuracy and integrity of date of birth records within the organization.
