Aadhaar now mandatory for filing income tax returns-SC

The Supreme court on Monday ruled that the Aadhaar card cannot be made compulsory for availing the Government social welfare schemes for the present but said that it can be made mandatory by the government for opening bank accounts, for filing income tax returns, etc.

The Lok Sabha on Monday also witnessed the hurried passing of the Finance Bill by Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, which makes Aadhaar mandatory for filing tax returns and getting a permanent account number (PAN).

In October 2015, the Supreme Court had extended the voluntary use of the Aadhaar card to the MGNREGA, all types of pensions schemes, employee provident fund and the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana only.

The way things are moving, the court does not seem to have much of a say as the government continues to make sweeping changes in many of its welfare schemes by making Aadhar compulsory, even for the Mid-day meal scheme, thus inviting the criticism of many social activists. The word ‘voluntary’ is being replaced in a phased manner by the stronger word, ‘mandatory.’