Even as the Supreme Court's five-judge constitution bench is about to hear this month a clutch of cases regarding Aadhaar linking, the Unique Identification Authority has said customers can start linking their mobile number with Aadhaar using one-time password from 1 December.
"By 1 Dec 2017, you can also choose to verify your mobile SIM with Aadhaar without giving your biometrics to Telecom Service Providers," the authority said this in a tweet on Thursday.
By 1 Dec 2017, you can also choose to verify your mobile SIM with Aadhaar without giving your biometrics to Telecom Service Providers. pic.twitter.com/zcCKYbYgwP
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) November 2, 2017
PTI had earlier reported that the process of re-verifying existing mobile subscribers using Aadhaar is set to become simpler and more convenient as the government has initiated a series of measures, including allowing re-verification at subscribers’ doorstep and One Time Password–based authentication of existing users.
The report said citing a source in a report has also enabled Aadhaar OTP-based authentication for re-verification of existing mobile users. Telecom service-providers have been instructed to initiate a scheme to use OTP-based re-verification of mobile subscribers using SMS or IVRS or on their mobile app.
“This means that if one mobile number is registered in the Aadhaar database, then the OTP method can be used for re-verification of that number as well as other mobile numbers owned by the subscriber,” the source was quoted as saying.
Telecom operators have been directed to offer the facility at the subscriber’s doorstep for the convenience of those with disablity, illness or old age, the source told PTI. Operators have been asked to put in place an online mechanism (through website, and other means) for people to request for such service.
A constitution bench of five Supreme Court judges is about to hear a a clutch of petitions challenging the Centre's move to make Aadhaar card mandatory for availing various services and benefits of government welfare schemes from the last week of November.
Recently, a nine-judge constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution. Several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.
Another bench of the court had on 30 October issued notice to the Centre on a petition filed by an individual challenging the proposed linking of mobile phones with Aadhaar card.
A bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan had asked the Centre to file its response within four weeks.
Some petitioners in the top court have termed the linking of the Aadhaar number with bank accounts (deadline is 31 December) and mobile numbers as "illegal and unconstitutional".
They also objected to the CBSE's alleged move to make Aadhaar card mandatory for students appearing for examinations, a contention denied by the Centre.
One of the counsel representing the petitioners had earlier said that final hearing in the main Aadhaar matter, which is pending before the apex court, was necessary as the government "cannot compel" citizens to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or cell phone numbers.
(With PTI inputs)
Published Date: Nov 03, 2017 11:48 am | Updated Date: Nov 03, 2017 11:54 am
