Centre extends deadline for Aadhaar linking to March 31 next year
text_fields
New Delhi: The Union government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it will extend up to March 31, 2018 the deadline fixed for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various schemes, including bank accounts.
Attorney General K K Venugopal is reported to have told the court that an order to this effect would be issued on Friday. The AG also added that the last date for linking Aadhaar to mobile services will remain February 6, 2018 in pursuance of a judicial order.
The AG also informed the top court that a Data Protection Committee led by Justice Sri Krishna will submit its final report to the government by February 2018.
Meanwhile, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, said it will set up a Constitution bench next week to hear the interim pleas seeking a stay on Centre’s move to link Aadhaar with various government schemes and services. The government may, however, limit applying the extension to the March 31, 2018 to those who still do not have an Aadhaar number.
Arguments have not been completed on this subject, and the matter is likely to be heard further next week.
The apex court had on November 26 court said that it would hear the petitions after its constitution bench concludes hearing the Delhi-Centre governance dispute. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra had in October said that a constitution bench would be constituted and Aadhaar-related matters would come up for hearing before it.
