Aadhaar: March 31 deadline for linkage extended indefinitely [Read order]

In a significant interim order, the Supreme Court today extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar with various schemes, including mobile phone number and new bank accounts..The linkage with Aadhaar need not be done till the Supreme Court delivers its judgment in the matter. This would mean that the March 31 deadline will no longer apply..However, this extension will not apply with respect to schemes covered by Section 7 of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016..The Court also ordered that Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for issuance of Tatkal passport..The order was passed by the Constitution Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan..On December 15 last year, the court had refused to interfere with the March 31 deadline for Aadhaar linkage. It is this order which now stands extended..“…we direct that the interim order passed on 15.12.2017 shall stand extended till the matter is finally heard and the judgment is pronounced”, the Court ordered..The extension will be applicable for all schemes and services except in cases where subsidy is to be claimed from the schemes covered by Section 7 of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016..“Mr. K.K. Venugopal, learned Attorney General for India submitted that this Court may think of extending the interim order. However, the benefits, subsidies and services covered under Section 7 of the The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 should remain undisturbed. We accept the same.”.The hearing began with submissions advanced by Senior Advocate P Chidambaram. His arguments revolved around the introduction of the Aadhaar Bill as a Money Bill. He proceeded to explain the whole concept of the Money Bill by giving examples from the constitutional provisions of Ireland..It was submitted that the Rajya Sabha has an important role to play, and by introducing the Bill as a Money Bill, its role was bypassed. This hampers the basic part of the Constitution i.e. the federal structure, Chidambaram argued..He proceeded to submit that though the Bill was modified in the Rajya Sabha, the modifications were ignored in the Lok Sabha..Senior Advocate Arvind Datar then informed the Bench that Aadhaar is being made mandatory for linking with passports, which is a clear violation of the Supreme Court’s directives. He also prayed that the Court extend the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with several schemes..Attorney General KK Venugopal submitted that the directives of the Supreme Court are being properly complied with. He also submitted that Aadhaar is being used only to expedite the process of issuance of a passport. He proceeded to submit that other ID’s such as the voter ID, Electricity bills etc. are being taken into consideration..After hearing the arguments, the Bench proceeded to extend the last date of linking Aadhaar card for an indefinite period..The matter will be heard again tomorrow..Read the order below