New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 139 AA in the Income Tax Act making it mandatory to link Aadhaar card with Pan card for the purposes of filing of Income Tax returns from the assessment year 2017-2018.
A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan reserved verdict at the conclusion of arguments by senior counsel Arvind Datar along with Sriram Parakkat and former Union law minister Salman Khurshid assailing the law.
The Bench was hearing petitions filed by Binoy Viswam, CPI national executive Member and former Kerala minister, retired Major General S.G. Vombatkere and social activist Bezwada Wilson challenging the introduction of Section 139 AA in the Income Tax Act.
Mr. Arvind Datar said under the “draconian law” if Aadhaar is not linked with the PAN, my PAN card will be invalid and one cannot make any business transactions, which will have far reaching consequences with one’s right to carry on trade. This law must go from the statute book.”
The Counsel said that due to the introduction of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, people are being coerced into obtaining an Aadhaar card in complete violation of his right to privacy as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution.
