- The Assam government has termed the finalisation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list there as a “mixed bag” and raised concerns over several “technical flaws” in the process. It has decided to move to the Supreme Court appealing for re-verification in selected districts.
- Earlier, the Centre and Assam Government had sought a 20 % sample re-verification of names included in the final draft of the NRC in the districts bordering Bangladesh and a 10% sample re-verification in the remaining districts. However, the plea was rejected by Supreme Court.
- The National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published on August 31, 2019. Over 19 lakh people were excluded from the final list.
- Excluded persons will have 120 days to file an appeal at any of the existing Foreigners Tribunals. The Tribunals are required to dispose of the cases within six months. Appellants can then approach the High Court and Supreme Court. They will get a window of 10 months to prove their citizenship before being sent to detention centres
- The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register which contains the name of all citizens of India residing in Assam. It was first prepared in 1951.
- The NRC has recently been updated in Assam to address the issue of illegal migrants. It seeks to identify illegal migrants in Assam who had entered the state on or after 25th March 1971.
- The update has been carried out under the Citizenship Act, 1955, and according to rules framed in the Assam Accord, 1985.
