The public interest litigation was filed by C R Neelakandan before the Kerala High Court challenging the manner in which passenger data is collected, stored and processed under the Digi Yatra scheme at airports across the country. The petitioner contended that the existing framework poses risks to the privacy and security of travellers and sought interim directions to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The relief sought included a temporary restraint on airport operators and their commercial partners from sharing or exploiting personal data without explicit authorisation and a requirement that all handling of such information comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.
Court’s Observations
While hearing the matter, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M expressed a prima facie view that the insistence on Aadhaar details for registration on the Digi Yatra portal may not be justified. The Bench noted that if a passenger is able to establish identity through any other valid government‑issued proof, the requirement to furnish Aadhaar appears unnecessary. The court framed the central question as whether Aadhaar can be insisted upon at all when alternative identification is available.
The Bench further observed that the obligation to disclose Aadhaar for purchasing an ordinary ticket or an air ticket does not exist, and therefore the same standard should apply to a technology‑based facility such as Digi Yatra. The judges questioned why the Aadhaar card should be made compulsory merely because the service is delivered through a digital platform.
Submissions by the Parties
Appearing for the Airport Authority of India, the Additional Solicitor General of India submitted that Digi Yatra is a voluntary facility and that no passenger is compelled to use the platform. The ASGI informed the court that biometric and identity‑related particulars remain solely with the Digi Yatra Foundation and are deleted once the passenger’s journey is completed. Regarding the Aadhaar requirement, the ASGI stated that registration under Digi Yatra is entirely voluntary and only those who opt to enrol provide their details, with Aadhaar being sought solely for the purpose of verifying the identity of the registrant.
The ASGI also sought time to obtain instructions and clarified that the Digi Yatra Foundation is a party to the proceedings. The Bench, after hearing the submissions, directed the foundation to apprise the court whether any other identity proof would be sufficient for granting access to the Digi Yatra portal.
Directions and Next Steps
The court has adjourned the matter to allow the Digi Yatra Foundation to present its position on the adequacy of alternative identification documents. Until the next date of hearing, the interim relief sought by the petitioner remains under consideration. The Bench’s prima facie view signals a potential shift in the regulatory approach towards biometric enrolment schemes, emphasizing that mandatory Aadhaar collection may not be permissible when less intrusive means of identification are available.