Summary
Pending the Constitution Bench’s final Aadhaar hearing, the Court prescribed an interim arrangement extending specified linkage deadlines to 31 March 2018. New bank accounts required proof of an Aadhaar application and its number. The order did not finally decide the challenge to mandatory Aadhaar use or the effect of the 2016 Act on earlier interim orders.
Issues
- What interim linkage arrangements should apply pending final consideration of the Aadhaar proceedings.
Held
- The Union’s extension for its schemes and existing bank accounts was accepted. The same deadline of 31 March 2018 was applied in similar terms to State governments. (¶¶ 9(i)–(ii), 10, 13)
- For new bank accounts, linkage was extended to 31 March 2018 subject to furnishing details and the application number showing an Aadhaar application had been submitted. (¶¶ 9(iii), 11)
- Mobile-subscriber Aadhaar e-KYC was likewise extended to 31 March 2018. Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act remained governed by Binoy Viswam. (¶¶ 12, 14)
- This was an interim arrangement pending disposal before the Constitution Bench; the connected matters were set for final hearing on 17 January 2018. (¶ 15–16)
Result
Interim directions issued extending the specified deadlines to 31 March 2018 with the stated conditions and section 139AA clarification; final hearing fixed for 17 January 2018.