Assam citizenship: SC refuses to extend deadline to publish final NRC list | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Assam citizenship: SC refuses to extend deadline to publish final NRC list

Press Trust of India, New Delhi | By, New Delhi
Feb 20, 2018 05:42 PM IST

The Supreme Court said that claims of those Assamese citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft National Register of Citizens published by December 31, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the deadline for publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and directed the Centre to complete the work by May 31.

Villagers walk past Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel patrolling a road ahead of the publication of the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the Juria village of Nagaon district in Assam, on December 28, 2017.(Reuters File)
Villagers walk past Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel patrolling a road ahead of the publication of the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the Juria village of Nagaon district in Assam, on December 28, 2017.(Reuters File)

The apex court said that the work of the verification of around one crore citizens in the state should continue without interference from any quarter.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

A bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman said that it would monitor the progress of the NRC work in Assam after 30 days.

Read | Assam recognises 19 million as citizens in first NRC draft, 13.9 million more wait

When attorney general KK Venugopal told the bench that it was not “physically possible” to complete the work by May 31, the apex court said its business was to make the impossible possible.

“Mr Attorney General what everybody thought was a big joke, has been turned into a reality. Our business is to make impossible possible and we will do it. We are monitoring it for the last four years and we know this,” the bench said.

The bench also made it clear that the upcoming panchayat and local body elections in Assam, which are scheduled to be held in the months of March and April, 2018 will be conducted by the state election commission and the state government.

“The work of holding panchayat and local body elections in Assam will not be at the cost of upgrading and preparation of NRC and the NRC work will continue as before with full deployment,” the bench said.

The top court also said that the state election commission and the state government would take all the necessary action for holding these elections.

The bench also did not accept the request to appoint an additional state coordinator for NRC work and said that incumbent coordinator Prateek Hajela would continue to carry out the exercise till it reaches its logical conclusion.

The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on March 27.

Earlier, the first draft NRC for Assam was published in December end as per the apex court’s direction to come out with the first draft NRC by December 31, 2017.

The Supreme Court had said that claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by December 31, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine.

The apex court had on November 30 said that on the expiry of midnight of December 31, the draft NRC pertaining to 2.38 crore claims, would be published. The NRC is prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam.

The court had observed this while rejecting the Centre’s plea seeking extension of time for publication of the draft NRC.

The NRC of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement among the state and central governments and the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord.

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On