The Supreme Court on November 03, 2017 refused interim stay on the linking of Aadhaar Card to bank accounts and telecom service providers stating that the Constitution Bench is to decide on the validity of the matter on the ground that it violates a citizen’s right to privacy.
Further, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the banks and mobile companies for creating a widespread panic by sending customers messages which said that accounts would be deactivated if not linked to their Aadhaar Card.
The bench comprising of Justice A K Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan, however, said that the banks and mobile companies must indicate the last day of linking mobile numbers and bank accounts with the Aadhaar Card in the messages sent by them to their customers.
Several petitions challenging the Centre’s move to make the Aadhaar Card mandatory for availing various services and benefits of welfare schemes have been filed before the Supreme Court.
Recently, the Supreme Court in a nine-judge constitution bench held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution. Several petitioners have now challenged the validity of the Aadhaar Card claiming that it is a violation to their Right to Privacy.
Ashwina Pinto, Associate
(keywords: Aadhaar card, Supreme Court, Mobile service providers, Bank Accounts)
