The Centre today told the Supreme Court that it is willing to extend till 31st March next year the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail various services and benefits of government schemes. 

Attorney General KK Venugopal told a bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, that 6th February will, however, remain the deadline for linking Aadhaar for availing uninterrupted mobile services as it had been mandated by the apex court.

The advocate, appearing for those who are opposed to Aadhaar scheme, told the bench that the central government should give an undertaking that no coercive steps will be taken against those who fail to link their Aadhaar.

Meanwhile, the apex court will set up a Constitution Bench next week to hear interim pleas seeking stay on Centre's move to link Aadhaar with various schemes and services.

The apex court had, in October, said that a Constitution Bench would commence hearing on the clutch of petitions against Aadhaar scheme from the last week of November.

A nine-judge constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution. Several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.

Source : AIR