MHA to inform HC in Three Weeks on the Issuance of NRC Rejection Slips

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Within three weeks, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is going to let the Gauhati High Court know as to when NRC (National Register of Citizens) rejection slips will be issued.

A case related to Foreigners Tribunals – WP(C) 1754/2015 – was heard by the High Court recently. When the High Court wanted to know as to when the NRC rejection slips would be issued, Assistant Solicitor General of India R.K. Dev Choudhury, on behalf of the MHA, submitted that he had no instruction as to when the NRC rejection slip would be issued. He, therefore, sought three weeks time to seek specific instruction and place it before the Court.

On his part, Justice Suman Shyam granted the Assistant Solicitor General of India three weeks time as sought.

In the same hearing, on behalf of the Government of Assam, Advocate General (AG) RC Borpatragohain said, "A policy decision has been taken by the State not to assign regular work to the 200 newly appointed Members of the Foreigners Tribunals since the possibility of NRC rejection slip being issued in near future is very bright."

The AG submits that "as soon as rejection slips are issued the newly appointed Members of the Foreigners Tribunals would be required to decide appeals arising there-from and hence, the Government is of the view that they should not be assigned any other duty for now."

The AG further submitted before the Court that "… The decision making process on the above issue is still under progress and therefore, some more time will be required to take a concrete view in the matter".

The final NRC was published on August 31, 2019. As many as 19,06,657 applicants were declared ineligible for inclusion in the final NRC. The 'rejection slips' in question are slips that will spell out the reasons behind rejecting the inclusion of applicants in the final NRC.

The case will be heard next on March 17, 2021.

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