Kerala HC Upholds Aadhaar OTP For Online Tatkal Bookings

The Kerala High Court has upheld the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation's (IRCTC) decision to require Aadhaar-based one-time password (OTP) authentication for online Tatkal train ticket bookings.

The court ruled that this measure is justified to prevent misuse of the system, citing past instances of alleged manipulation and bulk booking of tickets.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. observed that the decision to introduce Aadhaar authentication was based on these past instances and therefore passed the test of proportionality.

The court also suggested that the IRCTC consider offering PAN card-based OTP authentication as an alternative for users, as it could achieve the same objective.

The Bench clarified that Aadhaar-based authentication is not required for passengers purchasing Tatkal tickets offline through railway booking counters.

The public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the policy had argued that the requirement violates citizens' right to privacy and informational autonomy.

However, the Union government and the Railways submitted that the authentication process was introduced to ensure that only genuine users access the Tatkal booking system and to curb bulk ticket bookings.

The respondents told the court that Aadhaar authentication is carried out strictly in accordance with the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and the regulations framed under it.

The government also informed the court that entities seeking authentication do not get access to the Aadhaar database, which continues to be protected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) through strict security safeguards.

The court's decision is significant as it addresses the concerns of both the government and the citizens, providing an alternative authentication method while ensuring the security of the Tatkal booking system.

The IRCTC may consider giving users the option to choose either Aadhaar or PAN card for authentication, as both could lead to the desired result.

The ruling is a step towards preventing misuse of the system while also protecting citizens' rights.

In conclusion, the Kerala High Court's decision to uphold the Aadhaar OTP requirement for online Tatkal bookings while suggesting a PAN alternative is a balanced approach that addresses the concerns of all stakeholders involved.