The Centre today told the Supreme Court that the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail benefits of various government schemes would be extended till 31st of March next year.<br/><br/>Attorney General K K Venugopal told the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that extension of the deadline would apply only to those persons who do not have Aadhaar and are willing to enrol for it.<br/><br/>He told the court that no coercive action would be taken against those who do not have Aadhaar but were willing to enrol for it. He added that they would not be denied the benefits of social welfare schemes till March 31 next year.<br/><br/>In a note given to the court, the government has said that those who have Aadhaar are required to seed/link their Aadhaar with SIM card, with bank account, PAN card and other schemes.<br/><br/>The petitioners challenging the Centre's move to make Aadhaar mandatory for welfare schemes termed the linking of the identity number with bank accounts and mobile numbers as llegal and unconstitutional.<br/><br/>Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, said the main Aadhaar matter should be heard soon.<br/><br/>He said though the government has decided to extend the deadline till March 31 next year, it has also not said that no action would be<br/>taken against those who do not want to link their Aadhaar with<br/>either bank accounts or mobile numbers.<br/><br/>He contended that final hearing in the main Aadhaar matter which is pending before the apex court was necessary as the government "cannot compel" citizens to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or mobile numbers.<br/><br/>When the Attorney General said that he wanted to take instructions on certain issues, the bench asked the Centre to<br/>mention the matter before it on Monday.