The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended indefinitely its March 31 deadline for linking bank accounts and mobile phone numbers with Aadhaar. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/MintNew Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar with mobile services, opening of new bank accounts and other services until it passes its verdict on a pending challenge to the constitutional validity of such linkages. The court also noted that Aadhaar could not be made mandatory for issuance of a Tatkal passport, for now. Sikri, A.M. Khanwilkar and Ashok Bhushan is hearing a challenge to the constitutional basis of the 12-digit unique identification project, which is now likely to conclude after 31 March, the earlier deadline for Aadhaar linking. Venugopal had told the apex court that the centre would consider extending the linking deadline since arguments in the case were likely to proceed beyond the earlier deadline of 31 March.

Source: Mint March 13, 2018 11:37 UTC