The Supreme Court on September 19 ordered the resumption of filing of claims and objections by over 40 lakh people who have been left out in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam.
An apex court bench comprising of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F 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.
SC bench made it clear that the second opportunity has been granted to the citizens keeping in mind the “magnitude” of the issue.
“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 this year,” the bench said.
The apex court bench, which has now posted the matter for further hearing on October 23, has also sought the view of Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela, on stance of the central government with regard to applicability and non-applicability of certain documents for inclusion of names in the NRC.
The first NRC draft for Assam was published on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 was criticized by the opposition parties, mainly Trinamool Congress which called it an attack on Muslims.
