Aadhaar Necessary To Open Bank Accounts, Tatkal Passports; Clarifies UIDAI

After SC extended the deadline to link Aadhaar card to various services, UIDAI has clarified that requirement of Aadhaar for opening new bank accounts as well as applying for tatkal passports will continue.

In a series of tweets, UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) said, “As per the Supreme Court’s order dated 13th March 2018, the requirement of Aadhaar for opening new bank accounts and applying for Tatkal passports under the relevant laws continues.”

It further added, “for those who do not have Aadhaar, they are required to apply for Aadhaar and provide the Aadhaar application number while applying for availing the aforesaid services.”

In its order, the Supreme Court of India’s five-judge constitution bench had said, “Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, we accept the submission made by the learned Attorney General. Subject to that, we direct that the interim order passed on 15.12.2017 shall stand extended till the matter is finally heard and the judgment is pronounced.”

The apex court also clarified that the “benefits, subsidies and services covered under Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 should remain undisturbed.”

In December 2017, the Supreme Court had extended the deadline for mandatory linking of the Aadhar card to various services and welfare schemes till March 31, 2018.

After that in January 2018, the constitutional bench began the final hearing on a batch of petitions which challenged the Aadhaar Act on the grounds that it violates an individual’s fundamental right to privacy.

In February, the Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking an extension of deadline beyond March 31, 2018, for linking the Aadhaar card with a host of services. At the time, the bench while rejecting the petition filed by Shyam Divan, indicated that all these concerns would be taken care of when it concludes the ongoing hearing on Aadhaar validity and passes its final verdict.

The clarification by UIDAI on the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar for opening bank accounts and tatkal passports is one of the major issues concerning lack of clarity in Indian judicial system.