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The Delhi High Court has recently asked the Indian Government to respond to a plea that seeks to link movable and immovable property documents of citizens with their Aadhaar numbers in order to reduce corruption, black money generation, and 'benami' transactions. The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Yashwant Varma has granted four weeks to the ministries of Finance, Law, Housing and Urban Affairs and Rural Development to file their responses to the petition.
During the hearing, the petitioner and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay argued that it is the duty of the state to take appropriate measures to curb corruption and seize 'benami' properties amassed by illegal means to give a strong message that the government is determined to fight corruption and black money generation. He further added that if the government links property with Aadhaar, it will lead to an increment of two percent in annual growth, and clean out the electoral process, which is dominated by black money and benami transactions that thrive on a cycle of large black investments, political strength, and amassing private wealth.
The plea has claimed that 'benami' transactions in high denomination currency are used in illegal activities like terrorism, naxalism, gambling, money laundering, etc. It also inflates the price of essential commodities as well as major assets like real estate and gold. The petitioner has asserted that these problems can be curbed up to a great extent by linking movable-immovable properties with the owner's Aadhaar number.
The government has been given time to file their response, and the matter has been listed for further hearing on July 18. The Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, along with Central government standing counsel Manish Mohan, representing the Centre, has termed the issue as an important one.
It is worth noting that Aadhaar is accepted as proof of identity for property registration and land mutation, but it is only an optional requirement, and there is no provision in the law making it mandatory. However, the petitioner has argued that making Aadhaar mandatory for property ownership will help to reduce corruption, curb 'benami' transactions, and prevent the generation of black money.
By reducing corruption and the generation of black money, the government could improve its revenue collection and invest in much-needed infrastructure and social programs. Moreover, the move could also help to address issues related to terrorism, naxalism, and other illegal activities that are fueled by 'benami' transactions.
In conclusion, the Delhi High Court's decision to seek the government's response on the plea seeking to link property with Aadhaar is a step in the right direction towards reducing corruption and creating a more transparent system. If implemented properly, it could potentially have a positive impact on the Indian economy and help to address a range of social and political issues. The matter will be closely watched as it moves forward, and it will be interesting to see how the government responds to the plea.
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