Linking Aadhaar To Services Not Mandatory Now: SC

The Supreme Court has announced that for now, citizens do not have to link their Aadhaar numbers to a range of services. March 31 was the earlier deadline to link Aadhaar to bank accounts and mobile phones.

The court ruled out biometric ID as mandatory for accessing welfare schemes and subsidies. The 12-digit unique number for each citizen does not have to be linked to other services till the SC verdict in the case. The court is hearing whether the government's demand to link Aadhaar to services flouts the right to privacy.

Also: 6-Minute-Old Girl Gets Aadhaar Number

What it means for citizens

This means that the March 31 deadline -- to link bank accounts and mobile phones to Aadhaar -- has been extended till the SC verdict.

Also: Tamil Nadu: Circular Slips Parental Consent in Marriage Registration

Concerns about safety

Campaigners have raised concerns about the privacy and safety of data. The susceptibility of biometrics to failure, misuse of data and increased surveillance are other issues.

The announcement

"We direct that the March 31, 2018, deadline for linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes stand extended till the matter is heard and judgement is pronounced by the constitution bench," the judges said. The bench comprises Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.

Reaction to SC order

"This order was expected, as enforcing a March 31 deadline to link Aadhaar to services would have been improper while the constitution bench was still hearing the matter. I am glad it has come in, however late, and clarified waters muddied by a flood of scary 'link your Aadhaar or else' SMS messages from service providers," said Prasanto K Roy, vice-president, NASSCOM Internet council

"I am yet to see the actual order, so am unclear what all it covers. It does NOT for instance affect the recent RBI order to fully-KYC-link every mobile wallet even though every wallet was already minimally-KYC-linked," he said.

Roy said this had affected the mobile wallet industry and users. Many were unable to use their Paytm and other wallets. This SC order today does not bring this industry any relief, he added.

India launched Aadhaar, now the world's biggest biometric database, in 2009. The aim was to streamline welfare payments and reduce wastage in public spending.

Also: ‘Pregnant Women In MP Can’t Deliver In Hosps Without Aadhaar Card’

Also: Right To Privacy Is A Fundamental Right, Rules Supreme Court

Picture credit: Zee News