In a compassionate order highlighting the real-life hurdles faced by ordinary citizens, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to correct the Aadhaar details of a 74-year-old widow whose pension was delayed due to errors in her identity card. Justice G.R. Swaminathan, hearing the plea of P. Pushpam from Paramakudi, also took note of the difficulties faced by senior citizens in accessing Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASKs), urging the government to expand facilities across Tamil Nadu.
Background
Pushpam, a recently widowed senior citizen, approached the court after her husband’s army pension could not be transferred to her because her Aadhaar card had incorrect information. Her name was misspelled as “Pushbam,” and her date of birth wrongly recorded as June 25 instead of June 7, 1952.
She first approached the E-Sevai Maiyam and then the local post office for correction, but her efforts were unsuccessful. With no response to her representation to the UIDAI regional office in Bengaluru, she was forced to file a writ petition before the High Court.
Her husband, an ex-serviceman who had served the Indian Army for 21 years, passed away in May 2025. Since then, she had been waiting for her family pension - a delay caused entirely by clerical errors in her Aadhaar card.
Court’s Observations
Justice Swaminathan observed that while Aadhaar is an “indispensable identity document,” mistakes are inevitable and must be rectified quickly and conveniently. “When the law grants anything to anyone, it gives tacitly all that is incident to it,” the judge remarked, stressing that the right to update Aadhaar data carries with it the duty of UIDAI to make such services accessible.
The Court took note of the “ground reality” - that there is only one Aadhaar Seva Kendra serving all southern districts of Tamil Nadu, located near the Madurai District Court. Members of the Bar also shared their experiences of long queues and limited local support for Aadhaar corrections.
Quoting an article from The Wire that described the “daily trials” of citizens trying to fix Aadhaar errors, the Court echoed the need for decentralised Aadhaar update services, better training for local operators, and real-time grievance redressal.
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Justice Swaminathan underlined that under Section 31 of the Aadhaar Act, the UIDAI is duty-bound to make demographic corrections once satisfied with the supporting documents. In Pushpam’s case, her husband’s pension documents clearly mentioned her correct date of birth, which is an accepted proof under Aadhaar regulations.
The judge also linked the issue to the broader principle of social justice, noting that since Aadhaar is essential for accessing government benefits and subsidies, “the right to correct Aadhaar details partakes the nature of a fundamental right.”
Decision
Allowing the writ petition, the Court directed the petitioner to appear at the Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Madurai with a copy of the order, upon which UIDAI must immediately correct her date of birth. Following that, the Defence Accounts Office was instructed to expedite transfer of the pension account to her name.
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Justice Swaminathan expressed hope that UIDAI’s plan to set up 28 Aadhaar Seva Kendras across Tamil Nadu by March 2026 would materialize soon, ensuring every district capital has one such centre.
With that, the court disposed of the case - a small but significant victory for citizens battling bureaucratic rigidity in the digital age.
Case Title: P. Pushpam vs. UIDAI & Another
Court: Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
Case Number: W.P.(MD) No. 29394 of 2025
Judge: Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.R. Swaminathan
Petitioner: P. Pushpam, a 74-year-old widow from Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu
Respondents:
- The Director, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Bengaluru
- The Principal Controller, Office of the Defence Accounts (Pensions), Allahabad
Date of Judgment: 17 October 2025
