SC extends deadline for linking Aadhaar with various services till March 31

The Supreme Court on Friday extended deadline for linking of Aadhaar with various schemes and welfare measures up to March 31 next year. 

The apex court also said that the deadline of February 6 for linking Aadhaar with mobile services also stands extended up to March 31.

The SC reportedly directed that new bank accounts can be opened without Aadhaar but applicant needs to submit proof that he has applied for the card. 

Earlier on Wednesday, the government had extended the deadline to link the Aadhaar number with bank accounts by three months till March 31. 

The Finance Ministry statement had stated, "After considering various representations received and inputs received from banks, it has been decided to notify 31st March, 2018 or six months from the date of commencement of account based relationship by the client, whichever is later, as the date of submission of the Aadhaar number, and Permanent Account Number or Form 60 by the clients to the reporting entity."

Currently, a five-member constitution bench of the apex court is holding hearings over whether the government`s push to link Aadhaar to private and public services infringes on individual privacy rights. 

The court will reportedly begin final hearings on the constitutional validity of the government programme on January 17.

COAI on extension of Aadhaar-mobile linkage deadline 

The extension of deadline for linking Aadhaar with mobile connections to March 31, 2018, provided an immediate relief to both telecom operators and consumers, said industry body COAI on Friday.

COAI Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI, "We are pleased that the timeline has been extended. We were facing challenges in complying with the earlier deadline given the volume (of telecom subscribers)." 

He said the extension will be "good news" also for consumers as it will provide them more time for compliance.

Further, Mathews reportedly said the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) will be in constant touch with the telecom department on nuances of compliance with the March 31 deadline.