Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Reply On Assam NRC Appeals

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre, the Assam government, and other respondents on a petition regarding the start of the appeals process for people excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

The petition, filed by the Assam State Jamiat Ulama, was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi. The petitioner's counsel argued that people excluded from the NRC continue to face hardship as the appeal mechanism provided under the law has not yet been put into effect.

The final updated NRC was published on August 31, 2019, to identify bona fide Indian citizens in Assam. More than 19 lakh applicants were left out of the final list, while 3.11 crore people were included. The NRC State Coordinator's office reported that 3,30,27,661 people had applied for inclusion in the register, with 3,11,21,004 included and 19,06,657 excluded.

The Assam State Jamiat Ulama has also sought directions to the authorities to immediately issue national identity cards to all those whose names appear in the final NRC, citing Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, read with Rule 13 of the Citizenship Rules, 2003. The organisation has requested the Supreme Court to direct the authorities to begin the appeals process for those excluded from the final NRC.

The absence of an operational appeals mechanism has left many awaiting the next legal step, making the issue central to the ongoing proceedings before the apex court. The court has sought replies from the Centre, the Assam government, and the office of the state coordinator.

The petition underscores the need for a timely and effective appeals process to address the concerns of those excluded from the NRC. The Supreme Court's decision to seek responses from the respondents is a significant step towards resolving the issue.

The NRC exercise was completed years ago, but the absence of an operational appeals mechanism has delayed the resolution of the issue. The Supreme Court's intervention is expected to expedite the process and provide relief to those affected.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court's decision to seek responses from the respondents on the Assam NRC appeals process is a significant development in the ongoing proceedings. The court's intervention is expected to address the concerns of those excluded from the NRC and provide a timely and effective resolution to the issue.

The case highlights the importance of a functional appeals mechanism in ensuring that the rights of citizens are protected. The Supreme Court's decision will have significant implications for the affected individuals and the overall implementation of the NRC in Assam.

The Assam NRC issue has been a contentious one, with many individuals and organisations raising concerns about the exclusion of genuine citizens from the final list. The Supreme Court's intervention is expected to provide a sense of relief and hope to those affected, and its decision will be closely watched by all stakeholders involved.