Mobile-Aadhaar link must by Feb 6, says Centre

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Centre’s new affidavit said it was the SC which had approved the norm for mandatory Aadhaar-mobile phone linkage.
• It also asserted that no starvation death had taken place because of anyone not having Aadhaar.
• The deadline for linkage of Aadhaar with mobile number cannot be modified by govt unilaterally, the Centre said.

NEW DELHI: Citing an order passed by the Supreme Court, the Centre told the apex court on Thursday that all subscribers had to link their mobile phone numbers with Aadhaar by February 6 under E-KYC verification and production of Aadhaar proof was mandatory for opening new bank accounts.

The Centre's new affidavit, running into 113 pages and filed through advocate Zoheb Hossain, said it was the SC which had approved the norm for mandatory Aadhaar-mobile phone linkage in the Lokniti Foundation case on February 6 with a window of one year. The government also asserted that no starvation death had taken place anywhere because of anyone not having Aadhaar.

The deadline for linkage of Aadhaar with mobile phone number cannot be modified by the government unilaterally (as it is fixed by the SC)," the Centre said, adding that it has decided to extend the deadline for linking Aadhaar with existing bank accounts till March 31.

The assertion acquires significance considering that while hearing a separate petition on Monday challenging the mandatory linking of mobile phones with Aadhaar, a two-judge bench of the SC had sought the government's response in next four weeks.

A Constitution bench will hear a bunch of petitions challenging the validity of Aadhaar on the ground that it violated citizens' right to privacy.