Millions of Students Affected: Advocate Sahil Goyal Files Urgent Appeal Against CBSE’s Controversial APAAR Student ID Mandate, Citing Constitutional Violations

Advocate Sahil Goyal Challenges CBSE APAAR ID Mandate Again, Citing Violations of Consent and Data Privacy

Advocate Sahil Goyal, a concerned citizen and digital rights activist, has filed an urgent appeal (DOSEL/E/A/25/0001200) challenging a recent directive by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) that explicitly mandates the submission of APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) IDs for all Class IX and XI student registrations across schools in India. This move is a blatant disregard for established legal principles, constitutional rights, and previous assurances of voluntary participation.

Despite a detailed legal grievance filed on September 6, 2025, and a subsequent partial stay through a circular dated September 9, 2025, CBSE has issued a fresh circular (dated September 11, 2025, uploaded September 15, 2025) making APAAR ID submission compulsory. This new directive directly links future eligibility for Class X and XII board examinations to APAAR compliance, effectively coercing millions of students and parents into mandatory digital enrollment.

“This is not merely an administrative directive; it is a profound violation of fundamental rights, including privacy, consent, and child rights,” stated Adv. Sahil Goyal. “CBSE is playing with the colours of law, circumventing earlier reliefs and parliamentary assurances through backdoor regulatory tactics. There is no statutory law in place to justify such a sweeping mandate, especially one that links essential educational eligibility to a digital ID often tied to Aadhaar, thereby making it inherently coercive.”

Key Concerns Highlighted in the Appeal:

• Circumvention of Previous Reliefs: The new circular overrides previous directives and assurances, including a partial stay on the earlier mandate, demonstrating a blatant disregard for due process.
• Mandatory Coercion: Despite explicit statements from the Education Ministry in Parliament and RTI responses confirming the voluntary nature of APAAR, CBSE’s circular now makes it compulsory for registration, effectively forcing students into digital enrollment.
• Constitutional and Statutory Violations: The mandate violates constitutional provisions regarding privacy, consent, and child rights, particularly given the lack of a specific statutory law for such a requirement.
• Administrative Overreach: The directive represents significant administrative overreach by CBSE officials, undermining established legal processes and student welfare.
• Impact on Board Exam Eligibility: By linking APAAR compliance to future eligibility for Class X and XII board exams, CBSE is creating an insurmountable barrier for students who do not wish to or cannot comply, potentially jeopardizing their academic future.

The new circular, specifically on Page 2, Para B, and Page 7, explicitly states that “APAAR ID of each student… is being made mandatory,” with further details on Pages 35-36. This move comes after the original grievance (DOSEL/E/2025/0007999 dated 06/09/2025) and feedback on the earlier relief, indicating a willful defiance of calls for legal adherence.

“Our children’s educational future cannot be held hostage to unconstitutionally mandated digital IDs,” Adv. Sahil Goyal added. “This appeal seeks not only to provide immediate relief to students but also to uphold the sanctity of our legal framework and protect the fundamental rights of every child in India.”

Adv. Sahil Goyal is highlighting this important issue, helping students, parents, and ensuring that constitutional rights in education are protected.

Contact: 

Sahil Goyal (Concerned Citizen, Advocate & Digital Rights Activist)

Contact: +91-9467960600

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