Deadline for linking Aadhaar extended till March 31, 2018

The Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday the deadline for mandatory linking Aadhaar card to various government schemes for benefits will be extended till March 31, 2018.

The government, in August, had extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar to various government schemes till December 31, 2017. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the apex court that the Central government will take no strict action against those who do not have Aadhaar and they will not be denied social welfare scheme benefits till March 31, 2018.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the decision to make linking of Aadhaar with mobile numbers and bank accounts mandatory.

Petitioners said the order of mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile numbers is illegal. They also claimed that non-linking of Aadhaar with bank account invites prosecution under the PMLA Act. The Attorney General told the Supreme Court that he will get back with instruction from Centre on Monday on mandatory linking of bank account with Aadhaar.