Delhi High Court · 2025

$~174 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 19173/2025, CM APPL. 79828/2025, 79829/2025 MASTER ARJUN KHATRI THROUGH GUARDIAN AND FATHER ARUN KHATRI .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Darpan Wadhwa, Sr. Advocate along with Mr. Sahil Khurana, Ms. Anoushka Bhalla, Ms. Shelly Dixit, Ms. Tracy Sebistian and Ms. Nishtha Rawat, Advocates along with Petitioner No.2 in person. versus UNIQUE IDENTIFICATIONAUTHORITY OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Shraddha Deshmukh, Mr. Sanchit Singh and Mr. Sarthak Gupta, Advocates for R-1. Mr. Abhinav Sharma and Mr. Shubham, Advocates. Mr. Parth Goswami, Advocate for R-3 (through VC). CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA % 17.12.2025 O R D E R 1. The petitioner is a minor, aged about 13 years, studying in The Heritage School, Rohini, Delhi, affiliated to CBSE. The petitioner has filed the present petition, through his father. 2. The petitioner, being a talented hockey player, has been selected to represent Delhi in 69th National School Games (Hockey U-14 Boys Championship 2025-26) to be held from 22.12.2025 to 27.12.2025. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/12/2025 at 13:48:56

3. It is submitted that the petitioner has submitted the requisite documents including (i) Certificate of Eligibility; (ii) Bonafide Certificate (both issued by his School); (iii) Birth Certificate issued by MCD, and (iv) Copy of Passport as Identity Proof issued by Government of India. 4. It is submitted that despite the petitioner submitting the requisite documents, during the training camp, the petitioner was additionally asked to provide his Aadhaar details. It is submitted that since the petitioner did not have Aadhaar issued in his name, he enrolled for Aadhaar on 06.12.2025 at the concerned Aadhar Centre vide Enrolment number 0811/07986/03477. 5. Attention is drawn to the fact that, in the relevant Circular dated 30.10.2025, issued by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), the list of relevant documents which are required to be given in support of eligibility are prescribed as under: “(15) Eligibility:- .... (b) Eligibility/Age Certificate: It is mandatory for all players to have AADHAAR No. /10th class mark sheet/ Date of Birth Certificate (should be issued minimum 5 years before), Official Entry & eligibility forms in new format duly signed/attested by the head of the institution/ principal & counter signature by the competent authority of State/Unit/UT. The team manager will be responsible for bringing the eligibility/birth certificate of the participants, which are to be handed over to the organizing committee. In tournament only official entry form signed by the competent authority of State/UT/Unit will be acceptable. In the lack of this signed official entry form, it is not possible to participate in the tournament & issue the merit/participation certificate.” 6. It is evident from the above that in terms of the aforesaid prescription, it is sufficient for an eligible sportsperson to have an ‘Aadhaar’ OR a ‘10th Class Marksheet’ OR7. The petitioner already has the requisite ‘Date of Birth Certificate’ which has already been submitted to the concerned authority. However, in a ‘Date of Birth Certificate’. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/12/2025 at 13:48:56 contravention of the stipulation in Paragraph 15(B), Paragraph 19 of the same said Circular contemplates that a copy of Aadhaar is mandatorily required to be furnished by the petitioner. 8. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner submits that the same is ex-facie untenable as the purport of submission of the relevant documents is only to ascertain the age of the concerned child, which can be ascertained from the Birth Certificate of the child. 9. In the present case, there is no manner of doubt as to the date of birth of the concerned child as the same is evident from his Birth Certificate, as also from the requisite documents issued by the school of the petitioner. 10. It is further pointed out that the deadline for the purpose of submission of documents, in order to participate in the aforementioned 69th11. In the above conspectus, the present petition has been filed seeking the following prayers: National School Games, is about to expire. “i. Issue a direction to Respondent No.1 (UIDAI) to immediately process and complete the Aadhaar enrolment of the Petitioner and generate/issue Aadhaar (or Aadhaar number/e-Aadhaar/expedited enrolment completion) on an urgent basis within a time-bound period as this Hon’ble Court deems fit; ii. Issue a writ of mandamus directing Respondent No.3 to permit the Petitioner to participate in the National School Games (Hockey U-14 Boys Championship 2025–26) scheduled 22.12.2025 to 27.12.2025, on the basis of Birth Certificate/Passport/Bonafide and other documents already submitted, pending issuance of Aadhaar; iii. Issue an appropriate direction restraining Respondent No.3 from disqualifying/excluding the Petitioner for want of Aadhaar when alternative documents recognized in the circular have been furnished; iv. Pass any other order(s) as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.” This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/12/2025 at 13:48:56

12. Learned counsel for the respondent no.1/ Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), who appears on advance notice, submits that the petitioner’s Aadhaar Number (i.e.6981/8709/2167) has already been generated. It is affirmed by the learned counsel for the respondent no.1 that in terms of the relevant particulars on the basis of which the petitioner’s Aadhaar will be generated, the date of birth of the petitioner is as claimed by the petitioner viz. 25.01.2013. 13. It is further submitted that the petitioner has completed all the requisite formalities for the issuance of the Aadhaar Card, and only the printing of the Aadhaar Card remains pending. 14. Let the remaining formalities for the issuance of the Aadhaar Card be completed within a period of 48 hours from today and the same be made available to the petitioner within the said period. 15. Given that the petitioner has already submitted his Birth Certificate, the respondent no.3/ SGFI is directed to ensure that there is no impediment to the petitioner’s participation in the 69th16. The petitioner undertakes to furnish the Aadhaar Card to Respondent No.3 as and when the same is issued and provided to the petitioner by Respondent No. 1/UIDAI. National School Games (Hockey U-14 Boys Championship 2025-26) scheduled to be held from 22.12.2025 to 27.12.2025. 17. Learned counsel for the respondent no.3 submits that the entire portal being maintained by the said respondent is Aadhar based. 18. The respondent no.3 is directed to keep the relevant portal open till such time the Aadhar Card is issued to the petitioner by the respondent no.1, to enable the petitioner to submit/upload the Aadhar Card on the said portal. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/12/2025 at 13:48:56

19. It shall be ensured by the respondents that no impediment is faced by the petitioner in participating in the aforesaid 69th20. The petition is disposed of in the above terms. Pending applications also stand disposed of. National School Games (Hockey U-14 Boys Championship 2025-26) scheduled to be held from 22.12.2025 to 27.12.2025. 21. A copy of this order be given dasti under the signature of Court Master. SACHIN DATTA, J DECEMBER 17, 2025/r