Verify identity of all mobile users in a year: SC to Centre

NEW DELHI: In a move to end fake mobile phone users, the Supreme Court today asked the Centre to put in place within a year an effective mechanism to scrutinise the details of identity of over 100 crore existing and future mobile telephone consumers.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice N V Ramana took note of the statement of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, that a mechanism will be put in place to scrutinise identity of mobile users and new subscribers will be required to fill up Aadhaar-based e-kyc forms to ensure correct identity.

“It is submitted that an effective system will be put in place and the process of scrutiny will be completed in one year… We are satisfied that the prayers made in the writ petition have been substantially dealt with,” the bench said and hoped that the procees would completed in the near future and latest before completion of one year.

During the hearing, the bench suggested that existing pre-paid mobile users, who are 90 per cent of the total mobile users, may be asked to give identity details at the time of re-charge as done while giving fresh SIM cards to users.

Rohatgi said that it would be difficult as even small kiosks across the country re-charge pre-paid mobile phones.