Delhi High Court seeks Centre's response on mandatory Aadhaar for LPG subsidy

The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the Indian central government regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenges the mandate for biometric Aadhaar authentication (BAA) for domestic LPG consumers. The requirement, set to take effect October 1, makes biometric authentication a condition for booking refills at regulated, subsidized prices.

The petition, filed by advocate Pulkit Luthra, argues that the mandate poses significant difficulties for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities. Specifically, the plea notes that iris authentication can be problematic for those with visual impairments. The litigation contends that the policy lacks sufficient statutory backing under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and may be arbitrary or disproportionate.

Under the current directive from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, consumers unable or unwilling to complete the BAA process may be restricted to purchasing LPG at market-determined prices without subsidies. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia has directed the government and oil marketing companies to file responses, with the matter scheduled for further consideration on October 5.