SC sets March 2016 deadline for National Register of Citizens update in Assam

GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Assam government to revise its proposed time limit of three years for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
Appearing before the apex court, the state’s nodal officer for NRC updating, Prateek Hajela, in an affidavit, informed the court that the government would complete the process by December, 2016.
“The court wanted the NRC upgradation to be completed by February/March 2016. The court has asked Hajela to submit a confidential report (sealed affidavit) to the register general of Supreme Court, about the revised time schedule, steps taken so far, measures to be initiated and the difficulties faced in the process, on October 8,”said Abhijeet Sarma, petitioner in the case.
Sarma told TOI that the court instructed the NRC official not to consult with any officials of the state and the central government or any other department while preparing the confidential report. Next date of hearing was fixed on October 16.
Earlier, the court had summoned the nodal officer to personally appear before it and file an affidavit within a month to provide details of the process.
The Centre had informed SC that it had given Rs 140 crore to Assam to start the process. The state government, in its affidavit, said it had completed digitalization of the voters’ list.