After accounting for the aspect that the larger issue of the Constitutionality of the Aadhaar Scheme is yet to be decided, the Madras High Court has allowed nine petitioners to file Income-Tax Returns (ITRs) without quoting Aadhaar or an Aadhaar enrolment number for the assessment year 2018-2019.

Representative Image

Chennai:

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Anand Venkatesh allowed the prayer moved by the petitioner after holding that an order allowing the filing of manual returns would not be prejudicial to the I-T authorities. 

Senior Counsel Arvind Datar making submissions on behalf of the petitioners contended that the interim orders passed by the SC clearly held that Aadhaar is purely voluntary until the question of Constitutionality is settled.   

Additional Solicitor General Rajagopalan appearing for the Centre contended that the petitioners were insisting on manual filing that is not contemplated by law.