Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
The Aadhaar judgment is out, but how does it affect your life? Will incessant calls from the bank finally stop? Do you have to link Aadhaar to your bank accounts? Worry not, here's a quick guide.
No Linking for Bank Accounts
If you're hassled by all the calls from banks asking you to link your Aadhaar number, now you have a good answer to give them: "The Supreme Court has told me that I don't need to."
The SC has ruled that the requirement of linking banks to your Aadhaar card is not necessary, neither is it mandatory to give your Aadhaar number for opening a new bank account.
Mobile Number Linking Not Needed
There’s no need to link your Aadhaar number to your mobile phone, if you don’t want to. No telecom company can now insist on Aadhaar linking and telecom companies will now accept other documents like passport, driving licence and voter ID for a mobile connection.
However, if you already have linked your phone to your Aadhaar number, then the process for delinking has not been clarified yet. Justice DY Chandrachud, in a dissenting judgment, has said "Aadhaar numbers shall be deleted forthwith by the telecom companies." In fact, no private company can insist on your Aadhaar now.
No Aadhaar for CBSE, UGC and NET
If you're taking the CBSE, NEET and UGC exams, then it is not mandatory to give your Aadhaar number. If your child’s school is insisting on Aadhaar for admission, then you can say no to them too. In fact, for children, consent of their parents is essential to enrol them into the Aadhaar system and the judgment says children should be given the option to exit the Aadhaar system on turning 18.
Aadhaar Compulsory for Filing Income Tax Returns and PAN
However, Aadhaar is still compulsory for filing your income tax returns. It also has to be mandatorily linked to your permanent account number (PAN) card.
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