New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday refused to pass an interim order staying the linking of Aadhaar with mobile numbers and bank accounts, saying that it is leaving the issue to be decided on by a Constitution bench.
The apex court asked banks and mobile phone service providers to tell their customers the last date for the linking of accounts and mobile numbers with Aadhaar.
A bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan said the court had been told that banks and service providers were bombarding the mobile users and account holders with messages without mentioning the deadline for the linkage.
The court was told that the deadline for linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts was December 31 and for mobile phones was February 6.
The top court asked these institutions to avoid scaring people in this manner, while it was hearing a plea from social activists to restrain the Centre from linking Aadhaar to bank accounts and mobile phone numbers until a Constitution bench decides its validity.
Such a bench is expected to soon hear a bunch of petitions challenging the validity of Aadhaar on the ground that it violated citizens’ right to privacy.