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PUNE: City-based activist Anupam Saraph has written to the Centre against linking Aadhaar to bank accounts or phone numbers.

“Linking Aadhaar to phone numbers or bank accounts is illegal. In fact, it violates the orders of the Supreme Court. Linking Aadhaar to phone numbers started because the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Department of Telecom colluded to ignore the SC orders,” Saraph, a renowned expert in governance of complex systems, said.

Activist Vivek Velankar said the system of Aadhaar enrolment and updation in Pune is distressing. “Before linking Aadhaar to various services , the government should focus on making the process of its enrolment and updation simpler,” he said.

The Aadhaar linking is also causing inconvenience to citizens. Shekhar Hegde, who shifted to Pune recently, had to get his landline and cellphone numbers on his wife’s name since he did not possess the Aadhaar.

Vandana Mokashi (71) from Erandwane, who is bedridden, was unable to update her Aadhaar for several months and had to be carried in a special vehicle to an updation centre on Thursday. “We waited for several months before deciding to take her to an Aadhaar centre in a special vehicle ,” her husband, who accompanied her to the centre, said.

“There are messages being sent out to people to link their phone numbers, PAN and bank accounts with Aadhaar. This comes even as many people are yet to enrol for Aadhaar,” Mahesh Shah, who is yet to enrol for Aadhaar, said, adding that government should work on improving the enrolment process.

Sharon Fernandes, a working professional currently in Singapore, is yet to figure out how to get her Aadhaar number. Her father Vernon Fernandes said, “The government should find out some way to help such citizens.”

