‘Fundamental and serious errors in draft NRC’: Assam NRC Coordinator moves SC to order re-verification

Fundamental and serious errors have crept into the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) while updating the NRC in the state of Assam and a comprehensive re-verification of NRC will have to be done, State NRC coordinator Hitesh Dev Sharma has told the Supreme Court.

Sharma told the court that around 50,000 persons were found eligible to be included in NRC though their names were excluded from the draft NRC. This figure may increase if detailed re-verification is done, he added.

“For a flawless and complete NRC, names of these persons have to be included in NRC failing which NRC will lose it acceptability,” it was submitted by way of an application filed last week, as per a report carried by Bar & Bench.

Likewise, the application also said that out of around 30,684 people in Kamrup district included in the supplementary NRC under the 'Original Inhabitants' category, 7,446 were found ineligible while 23,345 persons were found eligible on ground other than 'Original Inhabitant' category. Only 107 were found eligible under 'Original Inhabitant' category, it was pointed out.

If similar exercise is carried out in other parts of the state, there might be more ineligible persons who have entered NRC through the Original Inhabitant window, he said.

Sharma therefore asked the court to order a time bound re-verification in the interest of the nation since Assam shares a strategic international border.

“Pass appropriate directions for a complete, comprehensive, time bound re-verification of draft NRC as well as supplementary list of NRC,” the plea prayed.

The re-verification should be done under the supervision of a monitoring committee in the respective districts and the committee must preferably have the concerned District Judge, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, it was further submitted.

One of the main issues raised in the application was with respect to 3.93 lakh persons excluded from NRC (out of a total of 40 lakh) who did not file any claims and objections against the same.

The application said that after some sample checks and analysis, 50,695 persons out of the 3.93 lakh were found to be eligible for inclusion in NRC under 'Original inhabitants' category or “Persons from other States’ category.

This figure may increase if detailed re-verification is done, it was submitted.

However, because these persons did not object to their exclusion, they have no remedy left because as per clause 8 of the schedule under Citizenship Rules 2003 only those persons who are not satisfied with the results of claims and objections can appeal before Foreigners Tribunal.

Since these persons did not take part in the claims and objections process they are now in a position wherein no appeal can be made before Foreigners Tribunal, it was pointed out.