Can Aadhaar be linked with bank accounts? SC to decide

The petition filed by Kalyani Menon Sen also challenged the validity of the circular which made it mandatory for citizens to link Aadhaar with their mobile numbers.

The Reserve Bank of India's decision to make linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts has come up before the Supreme Court. The petitioner has challenged the constitutional validity of this decision. The petition is likely to be heard this week.

Interestingly the writ came up before the SC a day after the RBI said that linking Aadhaar with bank accounts is mandatory under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The government has issued a gazette notification GSR 538(E) dated 1 June 2017 regarding Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017, inter alia, making furnishing of Aadhaar (for those individuals who are eligible to be enrolled for Aadhaar) and permanent number (PAN) mandatory for opening a bank account," the RBI said.

The petition filed by Kalyani Menon Sen also challenged the validity of the circular which made it mandatory for citizens to link Aadhaar with their mobile numbers. Both the decisions are violative of an individual's right to privacy, the petitioner also contended.

She says in her petition that the decision to like Aadhaar with bank accounts by amending the rules under the PMLA is violative of the promise that parting with biometrics by individuals was on a voluntary basis.

OneIndia News