The Kerala High Court has expressed a prima facie view that Aadhaar should not be made mandatory for registration on the Digi Yatra platform if a passenger can establish their identity through any other valid government-issued identity proof.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. made the observation while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the collection, storage, and processing of passengers’ personal and biometric data through Digi Yatra.
Legal Issue
The principal issue before the Court was whether Digi Yatra can insist on Aadhaar as a mandatory identity document for registration when passengers are otherwise permitted to travel using other government-issued identity proofs. The Court also examined concerns relating to the collection and processing of personal data in light of India’s data protection framework.
Background
Appearing for the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Additional Solicitor General submitted that Digi Yatra is a voluntary facility and that passengers who do not wish to use it may continue with the conventional airport verification process. It was further submitted that biometric and identity-related information remains with Digi Yatra and is deleted after the passenger completes the journey.
The petitioner sought directions to ensure that passenger data is handled strictly in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, while also preventing unauthorized sharing or commercial use of such data.
Court’s Prima Facie View
The Bench questioned why Aadhaar should be compulsory for Digi Yatra registration when it is not mandatory for purchasing an airline ticket. It observed that merely opting for a technology platform should not require passengers to disclose Aadhaar if alternative identity documents are already accepted for air travel.
Recording its prima facie view, the Court observed that Aadhaar should not be made mandatory where a passenger can establish identity through any other valid government-issued identification. The Court directed the Digi Yatra Foundation to clarify whether alternative identity proofs could be accepted for registration and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
Case: C.R. Neelakandan v. Union of India & Ors.
