SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: People waiting in snaking queues at various server centres, to link their Aadhaar with PAN before the March 31deadline are upset with the ‘exorbitant’ Rs 1,000 fine being imposed on them by the government for failing to complete the task until now. With banks and agents across the State experiencing a huge rush of panicked PAN holders, citizens urge the government to extend the time period to complete the link, and also to reduce the fine from Rs 1000 to either Rs 100 or Rs 200.
The government had earlier extended this deadline on many occasions.
With just around seven to eight days left for the deadline, people are running out of time while battling crowds, poor internet and the glitchy Income Tax website to complete the task. Some people waiting in these queues said that the banks now charge Rs 1,500, inclusive of a Rs 500-commission, while private agents charge around Rs 1,300.
Citizens fear that if they miss the deadline, their PAN would be rendered inoperative and they will also have to shell out Rs 5,000 to reactivate it, and in fines.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and advocate Surel Tilve said that the Rs 1000 fine is not affordable to the common man in India. “In India, many people are not highly educated and also are from the low-income group. The government should extend the time for linking Aadhaar with PAN and should also ensure that the fine is not above Rs 500. Labourers will lose two days’ salary just to pay this fine,” said Tilve, adding that the government needs to create sufficient awareness about the linking.
