New Delhi: In a setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the government cannot make Aadhaar mandatory for extending benefits of its welfare schemes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justices DY Chandrachud and SK Kaul, however, said that government cannot be stopped from using Aadhaar in other schemes like opening of bank accounts.

The top court further observed that a 7-judge bench has to be set up to hear the pleas challenging Aadhaar, but right now it was not possible.

The apex court on August 11, 2015 had said that Aadhaar card will not be mandatory for availing benefits of government's welfare schemes and barred the authorities from sharing personal biometric data collected for enrolment under the scheme.

However, on October 15, 2015 it had lifted its earlier restriction and permitted the voluntary use of Aadhaar cards in welfare schemes that also included MGNREGA, all pension schemes and the provident fund besides ambitious flagship programmes like 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna' of the NDA government.

The government recently decided to make Aadhaar number mandatory for filing of Income Tax returns and compulsory linking it with your Permanent Account Number (PAN) card.

The government has made Aadhaar mandatory for availing crop insurance policies from the upcoming kharif sowing season.

After cooking gas LPG, the government made Aadhaar mandatory for availing subsidised foodgrains from the ration shops with a view to better target Rs 1.4 lakh crore subsidy under the food security law.

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All existing subscribers of mobile services will have to go for Aadhaar-based re-verification soon, with the government instructing telecom operators to initiate the process.