The Supreme Court today sought the government's response on four petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act and linking of bank accounts and mobile numbers with the 12-digit biometric identification number.<br/><br/>A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, said banks will indicate in the messages sent to customers, December 31 as last date to link Aadhaar with accounts. <br/><br/>Similarly, it said, Telecom service providers shall also tell customers that last date to link Aadhaar with mobile numbers is February 6, 2018.<br/><br/>The apex court did not pass any interim order in the matter saying that final hearing in all Aadhaar-related issues would start before another bench in the last week of this month and the Centre has already extended the deadline till December 31.<br/><br/>Several petitions challenging the Centre's move to make Aadhaar card mandatory for availing various services and benefits of welfare schemes have been filed in the apex court.<br/><br/>Recently, a nine-judge constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution. <br/><br/>Several petitioners challenging the<br/>validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.