Aadhaar leak report: Editors Guild condemns FIR against journalist

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR on a complaint by a deputy director of the Unique Identification Authority of India in connection with a newspaper report on the breach of details of the over one billion Aadhaar cards, naming the journalist behind the story.

UIDAI Deputy Director B M Patnaik informed the police that an input was received from The Tribune that the newspaper purchased a service being offered by anonymous sellers over WhatsApp that provided unrestricted access to details of any of the more than 1 billion Aadhaar numbers created in India, the police said today.

On January 5, a complaint was received from Patnaik and the FIR was registered the same day, they said.

The police was informed by the UIDAI official that the correspondent of The Tribune, posing as a buyer, had purchased the details.

The FIR mentions the names of the journalist and the people the reporter reached out to purchase the Aadhaar data, but they have not been shown as accused, the police said.

The police said that they will be questioned.

Under fire for filing the FIR, the UIDAI said it respects free speech, including freedom of the press, and its police complaint should not be viewed as "shooting the messenger".AX
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Now, newborns will get Aadhaar cards at Punjab govt hospitals

Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said on Friday that Aadhaar cards will be issued to new born children in government hospitals.

"Henceforth, Aadhar card facilities would be extended to newborns at the premises of hospitals itself. The Heath Department would extend this service with the coordination of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)," Mohindra said.

The facility, being launched under the service delivery programme, is likely to benefit hundreds of children born in hospitals in Punjab every month.

Mohindra also said that specialists, including civil surgeons and senior medical officers, posted on non-clinical posts will also perform clinical duties on every Saturday.

"They will also perform scheduled surgeries on fixed days in government hospitals," the minister said.
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