New Delhi, November 8: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Tuesday informed that there has been no final decision on linking of mobile number with Aadhaar cards. The DoT assured that there will be no disconnection of mobile numbers not linked with the Aadhaar number of consumers as the case is still pending with the Supreme Court. DoT Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said, “The Department of Telecom is waiting for the Supreme Court verdict on Aadhaar linking to decide on the action against those who do not want to link their mobile number with Aadhaar”. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea of the mobile-Aadhaar linking issue on November 13.
Sundararajan added that there at present, there is no plan to disconnect mobile numbers for not linking with the UIDAI number. “We are also working on alternatives for people who are abroad (to help them link their mobile number with Aadhaar),” she added. The Department of Telecommunication had directed telecom operators to re-verify existing subscriber base using Aadhaar cards by February 2018. UIDAI informed that from December 1, mobile subscribers can re-verify their numbers by using One Time Password (OTP) without visiting mobile retail outlets
In October, Sundararajan had said that by December 1 people would be clear on what options they have for linking their Aadhaar with mobile numbers. She said that the availability of options would even be available for senior citizens as well. Telecom operators, however, have been insistent with multiple messages to subscribers threatening discontinuity in services. “As per government directive, it is mandatory to link Aadhaar with your mobile number else your number will be terminated.”
Meanwhile, Union Telecom minister Manoj Sinha emphasized that the government’s aim is to provide mobile connection and not disconnection. He clearly stated that the government wants to prevent any misuse of the system. Sinha added saying that the DoT is easing the process for mobile subscribers to “re-verify their numbers through Aadhaar without visiting telecom retail outlets”.
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