Aadhaar card linking deadline to be extended

As many people already know, it has been made mandatory to link one’s Aadhaar card for availing various services and welfare schemes.

However, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it will extend the deadline for this linking to March 31 of next year.

The notification of this extension will be issued today as said by the government.

Several petitioners have already challenged the validity of this linking of Aadhaar saying that their right to privacy is being wronged. They urged the SC for an early hearing about deciding on this linking.

CJI Dipak Misra told the petitioners that the issue will be handled by a five-judge constitution bench. They are likely to sit next week to decide the plea for the interim stay on Aadhaar.

Regarding the issue, Attorney general KK Venugopal said there can be no more stays on Aadhaar as it has gone on for a long time. He added that the Centre is ready to argue about the issue.

The attorney general said that when it comes to availing uninterrupted mobile services the deadline of February 6 next year has been made clear. He said that this deadline will remain as it is.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan talked to the bench regarding those who are opposed to Aadhaar scheme. He told Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, that the central government should not use any coercive steps against those who do not link their Aadhaar with various services.

In October, the Supreme Court said that a Constitution Bench would start hearing on the petitions against Aadhaar scheme from the last week of November.

There was a nine judge constitution bench of Supreme court held recently.

They said that the Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution.

This is the basis of several petitioners who are challenging the validity of Aadhaar linking.

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