If you have Aadhaar, it must be linked to PAN, rules SC

PARTIAL RELIEF But adds govt cannot render your PAN card invalid just because you don’t have Aadhaar

The Supreme Court has upheld the law that makes it mandatory for Aadhaar-card holders to give the unique identity number while filing Income Tax (IT) returns and allotment of PAN. It however exempted those do not have an Aadhar, till the larger issue of privacy is decided.

A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri on Friday made it optional for those who have enrolled for Aadhaar but not yet been allotted one, by laying down that no penal action may be initiated against those who do not have Aadhaar and don’t link it.

As per the amended IT law the authorities can render a PAN invalid if it is not linked with Aadhaar. Quoting of Aadhaar or enrolment ID of Aadhaar application form would be compulsory for filing returns and applying for PAN beginning July 1.

The court’s verdict came on petitions filed by social activists, including CPI leader Binoy Viswam, stating the Centre cannot “belittle” the top court’s 2015 order that stated that the unique identification number is voluntary. SC had on May 4 reserved its verdict.

The larger issue on whether right to privacy is a fundamental right, and if the law making Aadhaar mandatory for citizens violates it, is pending before a Con-