Assam NRC: SC says filing of claims, objections to begin by September 25

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered resumption of filing of claims and objections by around 40 lakh people who were left out in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam.

A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman said that the process of receiving claims and objections by the people who have been left out will commence on September 25 and remain open for the next 60 days.

"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 2018," the bench said.

It also made clear that the second opportunity has been granted to the citizens keeping in mind the "magnitude" of the issue.

The bench, which has now posted the matter for hearing on October 23, has sought the view of Prateek Hajela, coordinator of Assam NRC, on stance of the central government with regard to applicability and non-applicability of certain documents for inclusion of names in the NRC. Inclusions in NRC list would be backed by 10 identity documents which were permitted by the court on Wednesday.

The first draft of the NRC for Assam was published on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 in accordance with the top court's direction. Names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore applicants were incorporated then.

The final draft NRC list was published on July 30 in which names of 2.89 crore of the 3.29 crore people were included. The names of 40,70,707 people did not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold.

The apex court had on September 5, ordered that any one of the 10 of a total 15 documents provided in List-A of the claim form can be used by the claimants to prove legacy.

Assam, which had faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC which was first prepared in 1951.