Supreme Court indefinitely extends Aadhaar linking deadline

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar to one’s bank account or mobile phone till it passes its judgment in the matter. The top court is hearing petitions challenging Constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act. This extension, however, will not apply to availing services and subsidies under section 7 of Act. The earlier deadline to link Aadhaar was March 31, 2018.

The SC said that its interim order on not insisting Aadhaar, except for giving subsidy, will remain in force till the five-judge bench gives its judgment on petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar. “The government cannot insist for mandatory Aadhaar even for issuance of Tatkal passport,” the Supreme Court said.