The government has proposed extending the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile phones from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018, but only for those who are “willing to enrol for Aadhaar.”
The proposal was contained in a one-page note that was passed on to a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday. The note, however, insisted that those who already have Aadhaar will be “required” to sync their numbers with SIM cards, bank accounts, PAN and “other schemes where Section 7 (Aadhaar Act) notifications have been issued.”
Court seeks assurance
The government’s suggestion created such a furore in the court that Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had to ask the government to rethink its proposal and make linking voluntary for Aadhaar holders. It asked Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, for the Centre, whether it can give an assurance that no “coercive action” would be taken against those who do not want to link their accounts and mobile phones with Aadhaar.
The proposal was contained in a one-page note that was passed on to a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday. The note, however, insisted that those who already have Aadhaar will be “required” to sync their numbers with SIM cards, bank accounts, PAN and “other schemes where Section 7 (Aadhaar Act) notifications have been issued.”
Court seeks assurance
The government’s suggestion created such a furore in the court that Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had to ask the government to rethink its proposal and make linking voluntary for Aadhaar holders. It asked Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, for the Centre, whether it can give an assurance that no “coercive action” would be taken against those who do not want to link their accounts and mobile phones with Aadhaar.