Aadhaar linking: March 31 deadline likely to be extended

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it is open to the idea of extending the March 31 deadline to link Aadhaar with bank accounts and other services.

Attorney General of India, K K Venugopal told a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra that the centre has done it in the past and it could do it again if required.

He further said that the Centre could extend the deadline again after the petitioner in the case said that the hearing in the case may not be completed by March 31. The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions that challenged the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services on the ground that it violated privacy.

The petitioners made the request several times on the ground that the hearing may not be completed by March 31. Venugopal, however, said that the extension may not be done immediately, but at the last minute so that the petitioners conclude their arguments quickly.

Only three advocates for the petitioners have completed their arguments so far. Five more senior counsels are yet to open their arguments.

OneIndia News