The December 31 deadline for linking Aadhaar to bank accounts has been pushed back by the government. A new date will be announced, sources said. A government order issued yesterday modifies the 2002 law on Prevention of Money Laundering, saying Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number or PAN can be submitted by "such date as may be notified by the Central Government".
The order comes ahead of a hearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow, in which a five-judge bench is expected issue an interim order regarding a bunch of petitions that demand that Aadhaar linking not be made mandatory.
Activists have objected against the government order to link Aadhaar with bank
and investment accounts and cellphones, saying it is a breach of the fundamental Right to Privacy. They have also challenged the validity of Aadhaar, which collects and stores biometric data like finger prints and iris scans, saying it might be misused.
