From July 1, Aadhaar-PAN linkage is a must

Amended income tax rules notified to make linking of existing Aadhaar numbers with PAN.

The government on Wednesday made quoting of Aadhaar number or enrolment ID mandatory to apply for PAN. The Centre has also notified amended income tax rules, making it mandatory the linking of existing Aadhaar numbers with PAN.

The Supreme Court on June 27, 2017 refused to pass any interim order against the Central government notification making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits of various social welfare schemes.

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A vacation Bench said that no interim order could be passed at this stage on the "mere apprehension" of the petitioners that the government may deprive people from availing benefits of social welfare schemes due to lack of Aadhaar. The Bench referred to the June 9 judgement passed by the apex court in which it 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."