The Supreme Court today extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar with various services, government schemes and welfare measures till March 31 next year.
The top court also ruled new bank accounts can be opened without Aadhaar but applicant needs to submit proof that he has applied for the card.
It further said that the deadline of February 6 for linking Aadhaar with mobile services also be extended to March 31 to provide more time to consumers.
The order was passed by a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra. The bench also comprised Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.
The government has already issued 139 notifications mandating the linking of Unique Identification Number with various schemes including rural job guarantee, old age pensions, provident fund and the Jan Dhan Yojana.
On Thursday, the government had issued a notification extending till March 31 the deadline for mandatory quoting of Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number (PAN) for bank accounts and certain financial transactions.
Yesterday, Attorney General KK Venugopal had submitted before the top court that the deadline of mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes can also be extended upto March 31 next year.
The five-judge Constitution bench had yesterday also said that the final hearing on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act will commence from January 17 next year.
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