NRC Assam: Only Class 1 officers to hear claims, objections

GUWAHATI: The most crucial phase – hearing of claims and objections – awaits the NRC exercise process in the State. This phase slated from February 1, 2019 is set to see the application of the SOP (standard operation procedure) that has already got approval of the Supreme Court.

The SOP was prepared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Assam in consultation with the State NRC coordinator. According to the SOP, only experienced Class 1 officers will hear claims and objections so as to make the process of entry to and exit from the registration free from errors. These Class 1 officers, according to the SOP, will act as authorized officers of the district magistrates (DCs). Officers posted in districts and sub-divisions to be considered as authorized officers of district magistrates are – Assam civil service officers functioning as executive magistrates, Class 1 officers of the forest department, block development officers and Class 1 officers of the Panchayat Department and other Class 1 officers of various departments with expertise in carrying out inquiries and verifications. The State government is going to make available 1,500 to 2,500 such Class 1 officers to perform as authorized officers of the district magistrates.

The State NRC authority is to issue notices to claimants and objectors informing them the dates and venues of hearings of their claims and objections.

The process of submission of claims and objections that began on September 25 this year is to continue till this December 15.

The complete draft that was published on July 30 this year had 3,29,91,384 applicants and 2,89,83,677 of the applicants’ names appeared in the complete draft. The names of 40.07 lakh applicants have not appeared in the complete draft NRC.

In the run-up to the complete draft NRC, LRCRs (local registrars of citizens registration) were authorized to heard NRC applicants at NRC seva kendras.

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