Today, 13th March 2018, the Supreme Court held that the interim order of December 15, 2017, fixing the March deadline, shall stand extended till the matter is finally heard and the judgment is pronounced.
This means that the Aadhaar linking deadline has in effect been extended indefinitely.
The Supreme Court extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar cards to services, such as bank accounts and mobile phone connections, from March 31 till it decides on petitions challenging the Constitutional validity of The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
This was held by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
The Bench held said that its interim order of December 15, 2017, fixing the March deadline, “shall stand extended till the matter is finally heard and the judgment is pronounced”.
The bench also includes Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.
The court specified that the direction shall also apply to the Tatkal passport scheme for which Aadhaar had been mandated.
It is also directed that the same shall also control and govern the Passports (1st Amendment) Rules, 2018.
This was confirmed by UIDAI, the authorized agency to issue aadhaar cards.
The Supreme Court on 13th March 2018 has extended the last date for linking of Aadhaar in bank accounts, PAN cards, SIM cards, etc from 31st march 2018 till the date of the final judgement. 1/3
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) March 13, 2018
Supreme Court says the Deadline for mandatory #Aadhaar linking with bank accounts and mobile phones stands extended indefinitely.
— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) March 13, 2018