AMN
The Supreme Court today sought the government’s response on four petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act and linking of bank accounts and mobile numbers with the 12-digit biometric identification number.
A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, said banks will indicate in the messages sent to customers, December 31 as last date to link Aadhaar with accounts.
Similarly, it said, Telecom service providers shall also tell customers that last date to link Aadhaar with mobile numbers is February 6, 2018.
The apex court did not pass any interim order in the matter saying that final hearing in all Aadhaar-related issues would start before another bench in the last week of this month and the Centre has already extended the deadline till December 31.
Several petitions challenging the Centre’s move to make Aadhaar card mandatory for availing various services and benefits of welfare schemes have been filed in the apex court.
Recently, a nine-judge constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution.
Several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.