The Delhi Government has asked all heads of departments not to upload documents containing “sensitive” personal information like Aadhaar and mobile numbers on the websites of their respective departments and remove sensitive information immediately if any. The move came following the several “warnings” from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
In the backdrop of fact that some departments are uploading documents containing “sensitive” personal information such as Aadhaar and mobile numbers on their websites, the IT department of Delhi Government in a communication issued on September 11, has asked principal secretaries and secretaries to review the contents already uploaded on their websites and remove sensitive information immediately.
In an official communication to all the principal secretaries, secretaries, head of departments (HODs), the Special Secretary (Information Technology) Ajay Chagti has sought confirmation letter from the respective departments that their website does not contain any “sensitive” information.
“It has been observed that some departments are uploading documents containing sensitive personal information like Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers etc on their websites. IT department has been frequently receiving warnings/communication from CERT-In regarding Information Disclosure Vulnerability in Domain ‘http://delhi.Gov.In’ and ‘ndelhi.Gov.In’,” Chagti said.
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT)-In is functional organisation of Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology with objective of securing Indian cyber space.
Chagti said all department and agencies are advised to adhere to the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016 and Information Technology Act 2000.
The IT department also shared with HODs ‘General Guidelines’ for securing identity information and Sensitive personal data or information in compliance to Aadhaar Act, 2016 and Information Technology Act, 2000’ issued by the ministry of electronics and information technology.
On September 26, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of ‘Aadhaar’, ruling that it is not mandatory for bank accounts, mobile connections or school admissions.