Aadhaar, PAN, Ration Cards No Longer Valid Proof of Citizenship: Report

Moneylife Digital Team 02 May 2025

Public Interest

Delhi Police will now only accept voter ID cards or passports as proof of Indian citizenship from people suspected of being foreign nationals, allegedly living illegally in the Capital, says a report from Hindustan Times (HT). Aadhaar cards, permanent account number (PAN) cards, and ration cards will no longer be considered valid proof in such cases, officials aware of the matter told the newspaper.

A senior Delhi Police officer told HT that the decision was made by the Union government after many illegal foreign nationals, particularly Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, produced Aadhaar, ration, or PAN cards during verification drives launched since October last year.

“During our verification drives, we found that illegal migrants had acquired Aadhaar, ration, and PAN cards and used them to falsely claim Indian citizenship. Some also possessed UNHCR cards issued to Rohingya refugees. As a result, voter ID cards or passports have been made mandatory to establish Indian citizenship,” the officer, requesting anonymity, told the newspaper.

The officer further says that all deputy commissioners of police in Delhi have been asked to closely monitor the activities of ‘suspicious people’ in their districts. “Our drive against illegal immigrants will continue till the last of them will be deported to their countries. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) status without valid travel documents is of no consequence in India, any such foreign national is liable to be deported. If needed, we will liaise with intelligence agencies to deport illegal immigrants,” he added.

Another senior officer told HT that among nearly 3,500 Pakistani nationals residing in Delhi, about 520 are Muslims. Of these, more than 400 have returned to Pakistan through the Atari border as of Saturday. Most had come to India on short-term visas.

The visas of Pakistan nationals have been revoked in the wake of a recent directive by the Centre after the recent terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir claimed 28 victims.

On Friday, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) issued an order regarding the revocation of visas of Pakistan nationals except those on medical, diplomatic and long-term visas, with effect from 27 April 2025. Existing medical visas became invalid from 29 April 2025. The government later clarified that long-term visas already granted to Hindu Pakistani nationals will remain valid.

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Comments

User

saran2sai

2 months ago

Why the caption/title of this article should be so generalised, when the article's focus is restricted to only 'the suspected foreign nationals' ? But the measure from the Delhi Govt is really timely and apt.