The Central Government has extended the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to bank accounts for an indefinite period. The seeding of the biometric details is made mandatory in adherence to Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The stipulated date for seeding Aadhaar details with bank accounts, mutual fund folios, and insurance policies was December 31, 2017, but post the recent extension the deadline is now open-ended.
As per the latest update in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002 the requirement of submitting “the Aadhaar number and Permanent Account Number by December 31, 2017” has been replaced with “submit the Aadhaar number, and Permanent Account Number or Form No. 60, by such date as may be notified by the Central Government”.
The recent notification announced by Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has paved way for extending the deadline pertaining to Aadhaar for activities namely opening of a bank account.
Some petitioners have termed the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
One of the counsels representing the petitioners in the matter had earlier requested for final hearing on the Aadhaar linkage prior to final proceedings citing that the government “cannot compel” citizens to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or cell phone numbers.
Further, a five-judge constitution bench will continue hearing the PILs seeking for an interim stay on the Centre’s decision directing pertaining to mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various government schemes and welfare measures.
On December 7, the Centre had told the apex court that the deadline for Aadhaar linkage for availing various services and welfare schemes would shortly be extended until March 31 next year.
