Haryana’s Hisar district administration has detected a suspected case involving the alleged use of a “rubber thumb impression” by an Aadhaar computer operator during Aadhaar authentication procedures. In the case, the authorized user’s log in by way of thumb impression was being used by unauthorized persons for logging in. On getting a complaint in this regard, the district administration wrote to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to inform about the matter.

Following the complaint, the UIDAI’s Regional Office in Chandigarh has directed the district administration to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter and initiate legal action if any wrongdoing is established.

According to an official letter by the Additional Deputy Commissioner to the Deputy Director General, UIDAI, Chandigarh, the administration received a complaint alleging that Zonal Citizens Resource Information Manager (ZCRIM), Aadhaar Operator, could be misusing the biometric authentication systems.

A ZCRIM is an employee with the Citizen Resource Information Department (CRID), responsible for managing citizen welfare data, Family ID, and verification services at the district level.

According to the letter, the operator allegedly used a ‘rubber thumb impression’ instead of the operator’s ‘actual biometric (Thumb Impression)’ during Operator Confirmation on the Aadhaar Enrolment Client Multiple Platform (ECMP).

The complaint also raised concerns that the Aadhaar machine was allegedly being operated from an unauthorized private location instead of the designated authorized premises. The letter suspected of the possibility of unauthorized activities being carried out through the machine.