LPG-Aadhaar link stays till Centre specific directions, say gas agencies

Hyderabad: There will be no respite for domestic LPG consumers from the mandatory Aadhaar linkage to claim the subsidy amount despite the AP High Court striking down the Aadhaar LPG linkage on Thursday.

Officials of gas agencies and Oil Marketing Companies said the linkage would continue till the Centre specific directions are issued. They, however, added that the Centre was in the process of introducing a Bill in the ensuing Session of Parliament in December to accord statutory status to Aadhaar.

Officials said the Supreme Court had also given interim orders in September this year directing the Centre not to insist on Aadhaar. Despite this, the OMCs have been continuing the Aadhaar LPG linkage citing that the Centre had filed a review petition on the issue and the case was pending.

As a first step to accord statutory status to Aadhaar, the Union Cabinet had, on October 8, approved the Bill to this effect. It is set to introduce the Bill in Parliament for making it into an Act.

“As of now, the linkage will continue as usual. We have not received any instructions from the Union petroleum ministry. We are yet to receive the AP High Court’s orders. Once we get them, we will refer it to the ministry, which will take a decision on this issue,” said Madhukar Ingole, state oil coordinator for OMCs.

Meanwhile, complaints of nonreceipt of the subsidy amount even after completing the Aadhaar LPGbank account linkage are piling up with each passing day. Consumers are facing several hardships as gas agencies are not giving adequate information regarding whom to contact in case of nonreceipt of subsidy.