Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Allahabad High Court Questions Licence Issued To Dead Man
The Allahabad High Court is examining how online learning licences are issued.
A petitioner says a licence was given in the name of someone who had already died.
He says the system uses Aadhaar details and may not properly check a person's age.
He also mentioned a case involving an obscene photograph uploaded with Aadhaar details.
The petitioner called these problems a serious security concern.
The government said that entering an Aadhaar number is not enough to receive a licence.
It said applicants must complete other required steps.
The judges asked how a dead person could receive a licence if the allegation was true.
The government lawyers could not give a clear answer, so the court sought further responses.
The Allahabad High Court sought responses from the Centre and Uttar Pradesh over an Aadhaar-based licence system.
The PIL alleges that a learning licence was issued using the Aadhaar details of a deceased person.
Petitioner Santosh Mishra challenged Rule 11 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and related Aadhaar notifications.
Mishra argued that Aadhaar is not valid proof of age and could allow licences for underage applicants.
Government lawyers said Aadhaar alone does not issue a licence, but could not clearly explain the alleged licence issued to the deceased person.
- Who
- The Allahabad High Court, petitioner Santosh Mishra, and the Centre and Uttar Pradesh governments are involved.
- What
- The court is considering a PIL challenging Aadhaar-based online issuance of learning and driving licences after an alleged licence was issued in a deceased person’s name.
- When
- The matter was heard last week; the order was made available on Monday, and the case was listed after six weeks. The report is dated September 7.
- Where
- The case was heard by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
- Why
- The PIL alleges that the system may issue licences without adequate age verification and may contain serious security weaknesses.
Petitioner's concerns
Government's response
Validity of Aadhaar-based processing
Petitioner's concerns
Santosh Mishra argued that Aadhaar is not valid proof of age and that relying on Aadhaar details could conflict with the Motor Vehicles Act.
Government's response
Government counsel said that merely providing an Aadhaar number does not automatically lead to issuance of a learning licence and that other prescribed formalities must be completed.
Licence issued to a deceased person
Petitioner's concerns
The petitioner submitted documents that he said showed a learning licence had been issued using the Aadhaar number of a deceased person.
Government's response
The government opposed the allegations, but its counsel could not clearly explain to the court how such a licence could have been issued if the claim was factually correct.
Security risks
Petitioner's concerns
Mishra cited the alleged use of an obscene photograph with Aadhaar details and described the incidents as a serious security concern with possible national-security implications.
Government's response
The Centre and Uttar Pradesh disputed the allegations and maintained that the licensing process requires steps beyond Aadhaar-number submission.
- Court
- Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court
- Judges
- Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi
- Petitioner
- Santosh Mishra
- Legal challenge
- Rule 11 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and related Aadhaar notifications
- Alleged irregularity
- A learning licence was allegedly issued in the name of a deceased person using his Aadhaar number
- Government position
- Providing an Aadhaar number alone does not automatically result in a learning licence; other formalities are required
- Next step
- Notice was directed to the Attorney General of India, and the matter was listed after six weeks