GOVT EXTENDS DEADLINE TO LINK AADHAAR TO MARCH 31

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday extended the deadline for linking of bank accounts with Aadhaar to March 31, in line with its submission to the Supreme Court.

The earlier deadline was December 31. The top court will on Thursday hear a batch of petitions challenging the proposed mandatory linking of the biometric identity with various schemes and services.

Bank account holders will have to furnish their unique identity number and permanent account number or PAN by March 31 or within six months of opening an account, whichever is earlier, said a statement from the finance ministry.

The extension will provide temporary relief to crores of bank account holders who have not yet linked their accounts with Aadhaar. Last week, the income tax department had extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar with PAN to March 31.

The move comes a day before a Constitution bench of the SC starts hearing a stay against mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile phone numbers.

The statement added that a bank account will cease to be operational in case of failure to furnish Aadhaar and PAN as on March 31 or at the end of six months from the account’s opening. The account will become operational again only after all documents are furnished.

“This is just a gesture from the government, seeking to avoid the court granting an interim stay against the mandatory linkage of Aadhaar with bank accounts,” said Pranesh Prakash, policy director at the Centre for Internet and Society.