SC refuses interim order against Centre’s notification on Aadhaar

New Delhi, June 27 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to pass any interim order against the Centre’s notification making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits of various social welfare schemes.
A vacation bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Navin Sinha said no interim order could be passed at this stage on the “mere apprehension” of petitioners that the government might deprive people from availing benefits of various social welfare schemes due to lack of Aadhaar.
The bench referred to the June 9 judgment passed by the apex court in which it had upheld the validity of an Income Tax Act provision making Aadhaar mandatory for allotment of PAN cards and filing of tax returns, but had put a partial stay on its implementation till a Constitution bench addressed the issue of right to privacy.
The bench said, “In view of the observations made in the judgment in Para 90 of the case… decided on June 9, no further observation is required.”
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the Centre had extended the June 30 deadline to September 30 for those who did not have Aadhaar and are availing the benefits of various social welfare schemes.