The Supreme Court on Thursday, 1 November, extended the deadline for filing of claims and objections for inclusion of names in Assam's National Register of Citizens to 15 December. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman had earlier set a time period of 60 days, beginning 25 September, to file claims and objections.
According to PTI, the top court also fixed the timeline for issuance of notice as 15 January 2019 and verification of documents as 1 February.
Over 40 lakh claimants, whose names were not included in the final draft of the NRC released 30 July, have been allowed by the Bench to produce five more documents to assert their claims to citizenship. Ten out of the original fifteen "list A" documents had been permitted earlier for the same.
WHAT WE KNOW
In September, NRC State coordinator Pratik Hajela in his report to the Supreme Court had expressed his reservations in including the five documents, which he said could be 'misused' to get illegal migrants into NRC. Earlier in October, the court had sought the views of Hajela on permitting their use as favoured by the Centre in its 17 September affidavit.
The court had kept out five identity documents that included extract of NRC of 1951; extract/certified copy of electoral rolls up to midnight of 24 March 1971; refugee registration certificate issued up to 24 March 1971; and ration cards issued by competent authority with official seal and signature up to 24 March 1971 (midnight).
Hajela had said in his report that a person could have more than one legacy data code, and unused codes could be used by imposters. However, the Assam government on 31 October said that all 15 documents should be used in the exercise. LS Changsan, Principal Secretary at the Home and Political Department told Hindustan Times:
“Going by the principles of natural justice and non-discrimination we are asking that all documents should be allowed subject to stringent verification.”LS Changsan
The state government has also reiterated the demand for re-verification of the NRC draft.
(With inputs from IANS, Hindustan Times)
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