valid'(Eds: Rptg correcting word in header, para 1)New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The UIDAI, the authority whichissues Aadhaar, today said that the notifications (rpt)notifications for verifying bank accounts, PAN cards andmobile SIM cards with the biometric ID are valid and there isno change in them.
While the deadline for verifying bank accounts and incometax Permanent Account Number (PAN) by providing Aadhaar isDecember 31 and for SIM cards is February 6, the Centre hastold the Supreme Court that it is willing to extend thetimelines till March 31, 2018.
The UIDAI said the deadlines agreed in the court will bethe valid timelines for verifications.
Refuting social media messages, the Unique IdentificationAuthority of India (UIDAI) said that as on date there is nostay from the Supreme Court on Aadhaar and its linking tovarious services.
"That Aadhaar Act being in force, all notifications forrequiring Aadhaar for various welfare programmes, verifyingbank account, PAN card and SIM card with Aadhaar stand validand lawful," it said in a statement.
"Today's legal position is that there is no stay as onDecember 7, 2017 from the Supreme Court on Aadhaar and itslinking to various services," it added.
The government has made it mandatory for verifying bankaccount and PAN to weed out black money and bring unaccountedwealth to book. The same for SIM has been mandated toestablish identity of mobile phone users.
"The mandatory requirements of Aadhaar for PAN, bankaccounts, welfare programmes, and SIM cards have beenchallenged in the Supreme Court and no stay has been granted.
Therefore, it is clear that the video is outdated because itdoes not reflect the latest legal position as on today(December 7, 2017)," the statement said.
The UIDAI said the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery ofFinancial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act,2016 was passed by Parliament on March 16, 2016 and notifiedin the Gazette of India on March 26, 2016.
"Therefore, subsequent notifications issued undersection/s of Aadhaar Act for requiring Aadhaar as primaryidentifier by various ministries and departments of Governmentof India and States/UTs Governments for various services,benefits and subsidies hold the field today," it said.
The UIDAI asked people not to get misled by an outdatedvideo doing rounds in the social media and Whatsapp and said"people should instead verify their banks accounts, investmentaccounts, SIM cards, etc as per the current laws and deadlinesas early as possible to avoid any inconvenience.""The UIDAI has clarified on a video circulatedpurportedly out of context of a lady lawyer on WhatsApp,Twitter and Social Media and said that the video refers to anorder passed by the Supreme Court on August 11, 2015 when thecourt had restricted use of Aadhaar to only few programs," thestatement said.
The video, it said, does not reflect "true legalposition" as it stands today, because after the said SupremeCourt order of 2015, Aadhaar Act was passed by Parliament in2016.
Subsequent to the Act, notifications have been issuedmaking Aadhaar mandatory for availing various welfare benefitssuch as public distribution services (PDS), cooking gas LPG,MNREGS, scholarships and pensions.
The Income-Tax Act was amended in March 2017 to makeAadhaar mandatory for PAN cards. On June 1, 2017, PML Ruleshave been amended to make Aadhaar mandatory for linking allbank accounts, insurance, pension, mutual funds and DMATaccounts.
"Supreme Court too in Lokniti Foundation case through anorder passed in February 2017 has approved verification of allSIM cards with Aadhaar," the UIDAI said.
The apex court has upheld the linkage of Aadhaar with PANin the case of Binoy Viswam vs Union of India which mandatesAadhaar for income tax returns and PAN. PTI ANZMKJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.