Aadhaar deadline now March 31 for all services

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15

The Supreme Court today extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar for all services and schemes, including mobile phone numbers, to March 31 next year.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said the deadline for Aadhaar-linking of mobile phone numbers stood extended from February 6, 2018, to March 31.

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The order extending the deadline for linking of Aadhaar shall also be applicable to all state governments, besides the Union Government and its departments. Accepting Attorney General  KK Venugopal’s statement, the Bench extended the last date for the completion of the process of Aadhaar linking of new bank accounts to March 31, 2018, subject to the submission of details as regards filing of an application for Aadhaar and the furnishing of the application number to the account opening bank.

However, Justice DY Chandrachud, who pronounced the order on behalf of the Bench, said as an interim measure, an SC Division Bench order in Binoy Vishwam’s case upholding Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act would continue to operate. The top court had held that Section 139AA was not discriminatory and it did not violate Article 14 of the Constitution that guaranteed right to equality.

The Bench chose not to stay the government’s orders and notifications on Aadhaar and fixed January 17, 2018, for the final hearing by the Constitution Bench to decide the petitions challenging the validity of Aadhaar Act and the related notifications.

The order came on pleas for a stay on various notifications issued by the government making Aadhaar-linking mandatory with 139 various services and schemes.

The Centre, which has already extended the deadline for Aadhaar-linking from December 31, 2017, to March 31, 2018, had opposed demands for a stay, but said it was ready to extend the deadline with regard to mobile phone numbers as well from February 6 to March 31 next year. Yesterday, Venugopal had said the government was insisting on February 6 deadline for mobile phone number-Aadhaar linking because of the February 6, 2017, order of the court and the government was willing to extend the deadline up to March 31 next year.

He had, however, insisted that the 12-digit biometric identification number should remain mandatory for opening new bank accounts.