Pune: People, especially senior citizens, whose fingerprints cannot be authenticated during property registration will have other options, including iris scanning and an Aadhaar app-based facility, the state registration department said.Aadhaar-based identity verification is being made compulsory for property registration from Oct 1 to check fraudulent transactions and impersonation.Aadhaar authentication will be required for 63 categories of documents, including sale, purchase, mortgage and partition deeds. The department said citizens will not have to depend only on fingerprint authentication if it fails.The department will also provide an Aadhaar app-based option, officials said. The latest Aadhaar app supports face authentication and services such as biometric lock and unlock, authentication history and e-Aadhaar. The registration department will use the app-based facility for verification in cases where the conventional fingerprint process cannot be completed.This could be particularly useful for senior citizens and people whose fingerprints are difficult to capture because of age or the nature of their work. It could also save citizens from having to make another trip to the sub-registrar’s office simply because a biometric device fails to read their fingerprint.Under the system, the fingerprint of the person registering the document will first be checked against Aadhaar records. If the fingerprint cannot be captured or does not match, an iris scan can be used. An iris scanner uses a camera to read the unique pattern in a person’s iris and match it with the biometric information linked to Aadhaar. UIDAI recognises iris authentication as an alternative biometric mode along with fingerprint and face authentication. “We have currently started with Aadhaar verification from Oct 1 and the remaining options would be made available in the next 10 days. The entire aim is to ensure that it is made compulsory and there is no need of witnesses. The authentication will weed out fake witnesses,” said DIG IT Abhay Mohite. He said that all the offices will have the biometric scanner, iris, and the system will be synched to the Aadhaar app too.Citizens said the department must ensure that compulsory Aadhaar verification does not become another reason for genuine property buyers, sellers or other parties to a transaction being sent back. “Using technology to prevent fraud is a good step, but it should not make registration more difficult for ordinary citizens. If a fingerprint fails, the alternative should be available immediately instead of asking the person to return another day,” said a Pune resident.Another citizen said technical problems should not be passed on to applicants. “If Aadhaar authentication is compulsory, the registration office should have a working alternative when there is a scanner, connectivity or app problem. A genuine citizen should not lose a day or have a registration delayed because of a technical glitch,” he said.The department said the different authentication options would allow citizens to complete verification even when fingerprint authentication is not possible, while Aadhaar-based identity checks will help guard against fraudulent property registrations.
