Final NRC list out in Assam, over 19 lakh people ‘stateless’

Guwahati: The National Register of Citizens secretariat here on Saturday published the final NRC in which more than 19 lakh people have been excluded from the final list. A total of 3.29 crore people had applied for the NRC, of which 3.11 crore made it to the final list.

The state coordinator for NRC, Prateek Hajela, in a written statement said that draft NRC (Complete Draft) was published on July 30, 2018 wherein names of 2,89,83,677 persons were found eligible for inclusion. “Thereafter, claims were received from 36,26,630 numbers of persons against exclusions. Verification was also carried out of persons included in draft NRC under Clause 4(3) of the Schedule of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003,” said Mr Hajela while adding that objections were received against inclusion of 1,87,633 persons whose names had appeared in the complete draft.

Another additional Draft Exclusions List was published on June 26, 2019, wherein 1,02,462 persons were excluded. Taking into account all the persons already included and after disposal of all “Claims and Objections” and proceedings under Clause 4(3), it has been found that a total of 3,11,21,004 numbers of persons are found eligible for inclusion in final NRC. Names of 19,06,657 persons, including those who did not submit claims, were excluded, he said. The process of updating the NRC had started following the order of the Supreme Court of India in 2013. Since then, the apex court has been closely monitoring the entire process. The process of NRC update in Assam differs from the rest of the country and is governed by Rule 4A and the corresponding Schedule of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. These rules have been framed as per the cut-off date of March 24 (Midnight), 1971 decided in the Assam Accord.

The process of receiving NRC Application Forms started during the end of May 2015 and ended on August 31, 2015. A total of 3,30,27,661 people applied through 68,37,660 applications. The particulars submitted by the applicants were taken up for scrutiny to determine eligibility of their inclusion in NRC. The exercise of updating the NRC was a mammoth exercise involving around 52,000 state government officials working for a prolonged period.

All decisions of inclusion and exclusion are taken by these statutory officers. The entire process of NRC update has been meticulously carried out in an objective and transparent manner.

“Those not satisfied with outcome can file appeal before Foreigners’ Tribunals,” said Mr Hajela.

Meanwhile, contrary to speculations and erroneous reports, the Centre and state government have already clarified those left out of final NRC won’t be declared foreigners.

They would have the option of filing appeals within 120 days in Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs), which will decide on their citizenship status based on provisions of Foreigners Act, 1946, and Foreigner (Tribunals) Order, 1964.

Various political parties and organisations, including the ruling BJP, Opposition Congress and All India United Democratic Front, and All Assam Students Union (AASU) have assured legal aid to those left out of the final list to file appeals.