Petitioners Term UIDAI Linking 'Illegal, Unconstitutional'
Recently, a nine-judge constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution. Several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.
The Centre had on 25 October told the Supreme Court that the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to receive the benefits of government schemes has been extended till 31 March 2018 for those who do not have the 12-digit unique biometric identification number and were willing to enroll for it.
Some petitioners in the top court have termed the linking of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) number with bank accounts and mobile numbers as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
They also objected to the CBSE's alleged move to make Aadhaar card mandatory for students appearing for examinations, a contention denied by the Centre.
One of the counsel representing the petitioners had earlier said that final hearing in the main Aadhaar matter, which is pending before the apex court, was necessary as the government “cannot compel” citizens to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or cell phone numbers.
Supreme Court Refuses Interim Stay on Linking Aadhaar With Bank Accounts, Mobile Numbers
The Supreme Court refused to pass an interim stay on linking of Aadhaar with mobile numbers and bank accounts. The bench also observed that the petitioners could raise all issues before another bench which would commence the final hearing on Aadhaar-related matters in the last week of November.
The Aadhaar matter hearing in the Supreme Court on 3 November, Friday witnessed some lighter moments when Justice A K Sikri said even he has been receiving messages from mobile service providers and the banks to link his account and phone number with Aadhaar. The bench asked banks and telecom companies to not message and create panic among customers.
- SC refused interim stay on linking Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile numbers
- The issue will be taken up by Constitutional bench in last week of November
- Petitioners said people were “in a panicky situation” as the messages from banks, telcos were threatening account deactivation
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Don't Message to Create Panic: SC Tells Banks and Telecom Companies
The SC bench asked banks and telecom companies to not message and create panic among their customers saying that their bank accounts and phone numbers would be deactivated if not with Aadhaar.
The bench asked the central government to direct companies and banks to include the deadline for linking mobile numbers and bank accounts to Aadhaar in their messages. Justice Sikri told the Court that even the judges are receiving such messages.
The last date for linking bank accounts to Aadhaar is December 31 and that for linking mobiles to Aadhaar is February 6
Hearing Begins
Hearing on pleas challenging Aadhaar identification has begun in the Supreme Court. Justices Arjan Kumar Sikri and Ashok Bhushan will be presiding over the matter.