Will Transfer Order of ADCs Stall National Register of Citizens (NRC) Process?

GUWAHATI: It appears quite strange that at a time when work on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is entering a crucial stage, Dispur has issued transfer orders of as many as 17 Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs), who are in charge of the NRC updating processes in their respective districts of posting. It is apprehended that this transfer order might adversely affect the crucial last stage of hearing on claims and objections of NRC.

Interestingly, the order has been issued despite the Supreme Court’s directive to the contrary. The apex court had directed that no officials connected with the National Register of Citizens should be transferred while the updating process is on. The NRC work is being monitored by the Home and Political Department on behalf of State government.

On the other hand, the transfer order has been issued by the Personnel department taking into view the latest direction of the Election Commission (EC). The EC mandated that all officers who have been continuously serving in a particular place of posting for the last three of four years or have been posted in their respective Home districts must be transferred before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The present crisis looming over NRC is apparently due to the “lack of coordination between the two departments concerned”, said sources. The Personnel department prior to passing the transfer order reportedly “did not receive any communication from the Home and Political department about those officials (ADCs) who are linked with the NRC updating process”. Meanwhile, the National Register of Citizens authority has issued a directive to the Deputy Commissioners “not to discharge the 17 ADCs related to National Register of Citizens”.

Of course, the State government has been repeatedly stating that the NRC updating process is in its priority agenda. This stand of the government was recently reiterated even on the floor of the Assam Assembly.

However, sources informed that of late, “the present situation arising out of the transfer order has come to the notice of the Personnel department.” It was further learnt that “the department might review the transfer order of the 17 ADCs connected with the NRC process”.

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