NRC Allegedly Declared 'Final' By Foreigners' Tribunal

Guwahati: On September 4, the government of Assam had ordered the Foreigners' Tribunals (FTs) to not pass any "consequential orders on a person's nationality" and only give an 'opinion' on a person's nationality, acting as per the Foreigners Tribunals Order, 1964. The Foreigners' Tribunals are responsible for adjudicating citizenship in Assam and are quasi-judicial bodies set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1964.

While hearing a case against a Bikram Singha of Jamirala village, a member of the Foreigners' Tribunals-II in Karimganj, Sishir Dey, stated, "…there is no doubt that this NRC Assam published in 2019 is nothing but Final NRC."

In an order issued by the member of FT-II, it was stated that "…final NRC… has been published on 31.08.2019 which is available online on the official website of NRC Assam wherein also it's referred and mentioned as 'Final NRC'. This legal position is still in force. The National Identity Cards have yet to be issued to the citizens whose names have been included in Final NRC. But there is no doubt that this NRC Assam published in 2019 is nothing but Final NRC."

"I am of the considered opinion that the Opposite Party (Singha) is not a foreigner but a citizen of India", the order said while declaring the nationality of Bikram Singha.

The final list of the NRC was published on August 13, 2019. The names of as many as 19 lakh people did not make it to the final list. These people will have to appeal before the Foreigners' Tribunals and prove their nationality by showing necessary documents.

The Foreigners' Tribunals also abjudicate the cases of 'doubtful voters' and other references that are made by the Border Police in Assam.

Also Read: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Says Assam Has Almost Become 'Second Kashmir'

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