NRC: What next?

NRC: What next?

The order issued by the Supreme Court of India on Friday transferring Assam NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela to his home State Madhya Pradesh has not come as a surprise. In fact, though Hajela had accomplished the tremendously challenging task of preparing/updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), things had gradually turned out to be uncomfortable for him, especially with the BJP, the main partner of the ruling alliance in Assam going against him in the past few months.

The All Assam Students Union (AASU), which had by and large stood by him, especially with the Supreme Court constantly and directly monitoring the NRC process, too turned critical of the officer from the moment the final NRC was published. The State government, of which Hajela is also a senior officer in the Home department, too had become critical of him, particularly after he refused to share any information about the NRC. This he had done because the Supreme Court had pulled him up for making things public by way of speaking to the media. Moreover, the apex court had also debarred him from sharing or revealing anything about the NRC process to any other agency without its permission. Though Hajela had carried out an arduous task, it had become evidently clear at the end of the day that the final NRC had lot of discrepancies. Most importantly, it is an open secret that a large number of illegal migrants had managed to get enlisted by various means like obtaining vital government documents through fraudulent means. Likewise, a sizeable section of people belonging to various indigenous communities of the State, apart from a section of other Indian citizens who had made Assam their home, have been left out for reasons best known only to the NRC officials.

It is true that verification of documents at the original point of issue has been a difficult task. That exactly is why the AASU has reposed faith in the apex court and sought its indulgence for taking appropriate measures to include names of all indigenous persons and other genuine Indian citizens residing in Assam. The AASU has simultaneously also pleaded with the Supreme Court to ensure that names of a large number of suspected illegal migrants be removed from the final NRC by way of thorough re-verification of all documents at various levels. It is interesting to note that the AASU has welcomed the transfer of Hajela.

The reason, as cited by the AASU, is that Hajela had not taken the re-verification exercise seriously, because of which a large number of persons belonging to various indigenous communities and other genuine Indian citizens have been excluded from the NRC. Though the Supreme Court has refrained from citing any reason for transferring Hajela out to his home State, what is interesting to note is that the apex court has asked the concerned authorities to keep him in Madhya Pradesh on deputation for the maximum possible time permissible under the relevant rules. Who will succeed Hajela however will be interesting to note, especially with various allegations that were levelled against him. Whether the Government of Assam would have to directly name another officer to the post of NRC State Coordinator, or whether it will have to suggest a panel of names to the Supreme Court is also not immediately known. It is true that no officer is indispensable. And, as such, whoever takes over as the new NRC State Coordinator, will have to shoulder the responsibility of carrying forward the task of making the NRC as flawless as possible by inclusion of every Indian citizen and by excluding names of all illegal migrants who had found place in it.

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