Court Suggests IRCTC Consider PAN Card as an Alternative for Online Authentication
In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has upheld the legality and proportionality of Aadhaar-based OTP authentication for online Tatkal ticket booking. The judgment, delivered by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M., addresses a public interest litigation filed by Bahadur Shah Anakkot Nasirali, challenging the Ministry of Railways' notification mandating Aadhaar authentication.
The petitioner argued that the notification, dated June 10, 2025, infringed on citizens' right to privacy and informational autonomy, as laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India case. However, the court found the Aadhaar authentication requirement to be justified, emphasizing its role in ensuring genuine access to the Tatkal booking system, preventing bulk booking by touts, and mitigating artificial congestion.
The court noted that the Aadhaar authentication process complies with the privacy principles established in the Puttaswamy judgment. It operates within the statutory framework of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, requiring informed user consent and utilizing encrypted communication channels. The authentication is optional for online bookings and not required for offline Tatkal purchases.
Addressing the petitioner's suggestion to use PAN Card authentication as an alternative, the court recognized the potential of PAN Card authentication to achieve the same objectives as Aadhaar authentication. The court suggested that the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) consider offering PAN Card authentication as an alternative to Aadhaar for online bookings, citing its comparable verification mechanism involving OTP generation.
This judgment reaffirms the government's move to enhance efficiency and security in the Tatkal ticketing system while respecting privacy concerns. The petition has been disposed of with these observations.
Bottom line:-
Aadhaar based OTP authentication for Tatkal ticket booking upheld as proportionate and justified to prevent misuse and enhance system efficiency. IRCTC may consider PAN Card authentication as an alternative.
Statutory provision(s): Aadhaar Act, 2016
Bahadur Shah Anakkot Nasirali v. Union of India, (Kerala)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2946330
