Similarly, the deadline of February 6 for linking Aadhaar with the mobile services also stands extended up to March 31 with today's order. On Thursday, the top court had reserved its interim order on pleas that sought a stay on the Narendra Modi's governemnt's decision on mandatory Aadhaar linking with several welfare schemes. A Constitution bench on the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, said the final hearing of petitions challenging the Aadhaar scheme itself would begin on January 17, 2018. The Modi government told the Supreme Court that it was ready to extend the deadline for mandatory Aadhaar linking to avail various services and welfare measures to March 31 next year. He had said such people would not be denied the benefits of social welfare schemes till March 31.

Source: India Today December 15, 2017 05:21 UTC