Aadhaar-SIM linking will prevent misuse by criminals, govt assures all data safe

The government will move ahead with linking Aadhaar with all mobile SIM cards, as per the Supreme Court order of February 2017.

All SIM cards have to be verified with Aadhaar within a year from the date of judgement. All unlinked phones will be deactivated after the February 2018 deadline.

The move is to prevent obtaining mobile connections with fraudulent information. The government assured that biometrics are not stored by the mobile operators, nor they have access to any of the other personal data.

The court passed the February order acting on a PIL filed by NGO Lokniti Foundation, seeking 100% verification of cell phone subscribers with regard to their identity and address by linking their phone numbers to their Aadhaar cards.

Then attorney general had said that the government in principle agreed to the idea, but given the huge number, about 105 crores, of mobile phone users, the process wil take time. Besides, over 90% subscribers used pre-paid connections, making registration difficult.

To this, the bench had said, "The government has to devise a method. The person who comes for recharge of the phone should be given a form to give his details including Aadhaar number. He should submit the filled form the next time he goes for recharge. You can give him more time. May be three or four recharges before he furnishes the details. But make it mandatory that he must furnish details or else there would be no recharge of prepaid SIMs."

The apex court bench then set the government a one-year time frame to complete the Aadhaar linking process.