Supreme Court Extends Aadhaar Linkage Deadline, Including Bank Accounts & Mobiles

The Supreme Court extended the interim order on Aadhaar linkage until the matter is finally heard and judgment is pronounced. The extension included the deadline for Aadhaar linkage for new bank accounts and mobile phone subscribers until 31 March 2018, applying to state governments and Union government schemes. Additionally, the interim order was extended to cover the Passports (1st Amendment) Rules, 2018 under the "Tatkal" Scheme, ensuring that benefits under Section 7 of The Aadhaar Act, 2016 remain unaffected. The Court listed the matter for further proceedings the following day.

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Issues:
Extension of interim order regarding Aadhaar linkage and Passports (1st Amendment) Rules, 2018.

Extension of Interim Order Regarding Aadhaar Linkage:
The Supreme Court, after hearing submissions from various parties, accepted the submission made by the learned Attorney General. The Court directed that the interim order passed on 15.12.2017 regarding Aadhaar linkage shall stand extended until the matter is finally heard and the judgment is pronounced. The directions issued in the interim order, specifically in paragraphs 11 to 13, were reiterated. These paragraphs extended the last date for Aadhaar linkage for new bank accounts and mobile phone subscribers until 31 March 2018. The extension of the deadline to 31 March 2018 was ordered to apply to all state governments and schemes of the Ministries/Departments of the Union government in similar terms.

Incorporation of Passports (1st Amendment) Rules, 2018:
During the proceedings, it was brought to the Court's attention that the Passports (1st Amendment) Rules, 2018 had been introduced, specifically concerning the Passport under the "Tatkal" Scheme. The petitioners requested an extension of the interim order to cover the arena relating to the grant of Passports as well. The learned Attorney General for India agreed to the extension of the interim order, subject to the condition that benefits, subsidies, and services covered under Section 7 of The Aadhaar Act, 2016 remain undisturbed. The Court accepted this submission, directing that the interim order shall also control and govern the Passports (1st Amendment) Rules, 2018. The matter was listed for the next day to continue the proceedings.

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