The Union government on Friday exempted citizens residing in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya from mandatory quoting of Aadhaar for a PAN application or for filing income tax returns.
It also said Aadhaar quoting is not mandatory for non-resident Indians, citizens of 80 years of age or more, and non-citizens.
The Finance Act 2017 had introduced Section 139AA in the Income Tax Act, making it mandatory from July 1, 2017, to provide the Aadhaar number while applying for a PAN or submitting income tax returns.
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“… the Central Government hereby notifies that the provisions of section 139AA shall not apply to an individual who does not possess the Aadhaar number or the Enrolment ID and is:- (i) residing in the States of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya; (ii) a non-resident as per the Income-tax Act, 1961; (iii) of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the previous year; (iv) not a citizen of India,” the official statement said.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) also faced difficulties in implementing its decision to make Aadhaar mandatory to get pension benefits. It extended the deadline for getting Aadhaar number linked with Provident Fund accounts to avail pension benefits to September 30 in the Northeast.
Aadhaar enrolment has been low in the northeastern States.
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In Assam, only 7% of citizens out the total estimated population of around 3.30 crore have enrolled in Aadhaar, as per Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) data till April 31, 2017.
Similarly, in Meghalaya, only 9% of citizens have enrolled for Aadhaar. Barring Tripura – with 94% enrolment – the Aadhaar coverage is relatively poor in Arunachal Pradesh (65%), Nagaland (55%) and Mizoram (66%) too.
There is an ongoing case in the Supreme Court on making Aadhaar mandatory for availing government schemes.