The Union Government today told the Supreme Court that it has extended the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of government schemes to March 31, 2018.
The previous deadline was December 31, 2017.
The SC had said on August 30 that it will hear all cases related to Aadhaar related matters in the first week of November.
The court has been hearing various cases related to issues related to Aadhaar. On July 7, a three-judge bench said that all such issues should finally be decided by a larger bench. On July 12, the apex court set up a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear matters relating to Aadhaar, including the aspect of right to privacy.
On July 18, the five-judge bench had constituted a nine-judge bench to decide on right to privacy.
On August 24, the nine-judge Constitution bench declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right and said that it is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution.
The apex court was hearing three separate petitions challenging the government’s notification making Aadhaar mandatory for availing of benefits of various social welfare schemes.