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New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that all subscribers must link their phone numbers with Aadhaar by February 6 next year under E-KYC verification. The Centre also asserted that production of Aadhaar proof is mandatory for opening new bank accounts.
Citing an order passed by the apex court, the Centre 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 113-page affidavit was filed through advocate Zoheb Hossain.
The Centre said that the deadline for linkage of Aadhaar with mobile phone number cannot be modified by the government unilaterally as it is fixed by the Supreme Court. Besides, it has also decided to extend the deadline for linking Aadhaar with existing bank accounts till March 31.
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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.
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In its fresh affidavit, the Centre said: "Until March 31, existing bank accounts will not be made non-operational for not linking with Aadhaar. But as far as opening new bank accounts are concerned, Aadhaar or enrolment ID must be given as proof of identity. For existing account holders, the deadline for Aadhaar-based verification is being extended to March 31 and no coercive action will be taken till then."
Meanwhile, the government has introduced three new methods, including one time password (OTP), Aadhaar app and IVRS facility, to link the 12-digit Aadhaar number with mobile numbers.
