Are you still in a hurry to link your mobile phone number and bank account with your Aadhaar Card?

Although it was mandatory, yet the honourable Supreme Court has postponed this idea. The apex court has held the verdict over it infinitely. Erstwhile, the central government insisted to link Aadhaar with the welfare schemes. It stated that this linking would definitely cease Benami deals and parking of black money.

This implementation dug many potholes for the non-resident Indians. Every year, many of them renew their passport to extend their eligibility for traveling here. But, the diaspora with the Indian passport took it as a decision taken on the spur of the moment. It needs time to apply for the Aadhaar card. In the meantime, it has to through the police verification again to get the police clearance certificate. Otherwise, the non-residents won’t be able to visit here without any hitch.

The Supreme Court Extends Aadhaar Link Date:

To counter that decision of the government, a number of petitions were filed. All those petitions subtly stated this decision as a violation of the right to privacy. Therefore, the Apex Court kick started the hearing. Its verdict is yet in the pipeline. Till then, nobody or a governing body can insist upon linking bank accounts and mobile phone numbers with it.

In all, the non-resident community can heave a sigh of relief. Moreover, it would have enough time to get the Aadhaar number. But, that decision would purely be voluntary, not the mandate.

Aadhaar Necessary But Only for Tatkaal Passport & new bank account:

However, the Supreme Court has ordered to continue the mandate of mentioning the UIDAI number while applying for the Tatkal passport and a new bank account.

Plus, the same court has dispelled suspicion over using this unique number for utilizing various benefits, subsidies and services under the Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. It stated that these targeted delivery of Financial and other subsidies/benefits/services would require the Aadhaar number to grab those facilities.

In December 2017, the court had ordered for extending the deadline of linking all bank accounts and mobile phone numbers with the Aadhaar. It implied that every Indian, be it a resident or non-resident, had to acquire this unique number and link it with the bank accounts/mobile phone number.

This mandate was challenged. Consequently, the bench of the Supreme Court postponed this idea till the time the verdict will be out.

Till then, the PIOs and OCIs can enclose the below mentioned documents for renewing their passport.

Documents Required for Renewing Passport:

• Old passport
• Self-attested photocopies of the first two and the last two passport pages
• Self-attested photocopy of the ECR or Non-ECR page
• Self-attested photocopy of the validity extension pages

In case, the NRI has lost his passport, he/she should enclose these documents in support:

• An affidavit stating the date, time and place of the lost passport
• Original FIR
• Address proof, like Voter ID/ Aadhaar Card/Rental Agreement/ Income Tax Assessment order/ Electricity Bill/ Water Bill
• Certificate from the foreign employer with his seal and signature
• Passport of the spouse (if any)
• Parent’s passport
• Birth certificate/School Leaving Certificate stating the date of the birth of the applicant
• An affidavit from the magistrate/sub-divisional magistrate

Drill in the head that the address proof that you’re likely to enclose as a supporting document should have the current address or the updated one. In all, it should be similar to the details mentioned in the parents or the spouse passport.  Otherwise, your passport renewal application would be rejected. So, be ready with all these documents.