Claims of filing for Assam NRC to start on September 25: Supreme Court

In another setback for the Centre, the Supreme Court of India passed an order saying the resumption of filing claims and objections by the people — who have been left out of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam — can kick off on 25 September to continue for another two months.

“We are of the view that all that which we are required to do at this stage is to open the filing of claims and objections with regard to inclusion in the draft NRC published in July this year,” a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. The bench also reminded that a second opportunity has be given to the people considering the “magnitude” of the matter.

The matter will again be hear by the apex court on October 23. The bench asked for the coordinator of Assam NRC, Prateek Hajela’s view on the government’s idea of availability and non-availability of certain documents in order to get included in the NRC.

However, out of 3.29 crore applicants, 2.89 crore were inducted in the second and final draft put out on 30 July. The historic document earlier dropped names of 40.7 lakh people.

The initial draft sparked huge controversy in the country with the opposition targeting the government while West Bengal’s ruling party Trinamool Congress calling it an anti-Muslim stand of the central government.

The NRC is slated to include the names of all Indian citizens who have been staying in the eastern state before March 25, 1971, for which the process started in May three years ago. From 68.27 lakh families in Assam, a total of 6.5 crore documents were received.

Also read: Amit Shah on Assam NRC issue: Will pick, throw illegal immigrants out