Right to Privacy? Aadhaar cards to be linked with PAN in Punjab

District banks in the state of Punjabhave begun the procedure to link Aadhaar cards with customers'accounts.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has designated more than 55 branches in Jalandhar and 32 branches in Kapurthala as authorised UID centres, according to a report in The Tribune.

As the Supreme Court recently announced the ruling on privacy being a fundamental right, many speculated that the Union Government will expel the project.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The Supreme Court, in its judgement onAugust 24, declared thatprivacy is a fundamental right as it is intrinsic to the right tolife and liberty enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution.

The petitioners had claimed that Aadhaar is a violation of privacy as it requires citizens to give samples of their fingerprints and iris scans, therefore, breaching bodily integrity.

Notwithstanding to the expectations, the district administration is preparing to begin the UID enrollment by September 1.

According to sources, the specified branches, along with allotting UID numbers to their customers, will also assign UIDs to clients of other banks.

UID machines have been installed at the centres. Customers can get their UID card made and get it linked to their corresponding bank.

Linking Aadhaar to PAN will ensure that multiple filingof tax returns by a single individualunder different identitieswill not occur.

As Aadhaar is based on biometrics, the possibility of duplication gets hugely reduced. PAN is not based on biometrics.

The government has issued a mandate to compulsorily link bank accounts with Aadhaar by December 31, 2017.