NRC: Govt submits SOP in SC over claims, objections

New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday submitted in the Supreme Court the standard operating procedure to deal with claims and objections of 40 lakh persons left out in the draft National Register of Citizens ( NRC). Dispelling the apprehension of those left out in the NRC, the Centre informed the apex court that final NRC would be released after the hearing of claims and objections is completed by following a fair procedure.

The Centre on Tuesday submitted in the Supreme Court the Standard Operating Procedure ( SOP) to deal with claims and objections of 40 lakh persons left out in the draft National Register of Citizens.

Dispelling the apprehension of those left out in the NRC, the Centre informed the apex court that final NRC would be released after the hearing of claims and objections is completed by following a fair procedure. It said the authorities examining claims would exercise great caution to ensure that no illegal person’s name is included in the final NRC.

The court, which is to take up the issue for hearing on August 16, has already made it clear that the SOP is subject to scrutiny and if necessary it could be improved to ensure that no genuine citizen is left out. In its affidavit the Union home ministry said the process of informing the public about the reasons for noninclusion was started on August 10.

Claims and objections would be received from August 30 till October 28; digitisation of and processing of forms would be taken up from September 15 to November 20; notices would be issued to each person left out in NRC from November 20 to 30 and hearings will commence from December 15 and time line for disposal can only be firmed up once the actual number of claims/ objections received are known.

The SOP defines the process of how to file a claim and what additional documents one can file to prove identity; as of now 55,000 administrative officers throughout the state of Assam would be engaged to deal with claims and objections.

Adequate time will be given during the stage of filing of claims and objections, issue of notices and

hearings so that due diligence is done by the authorities disposing them of.