Govt. fixes June 30 as new date for upgraded NRC

December 27: The ongoing exercise of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam has got an extension of six months from the Centre. The Registrar General of India in a notification stated that the entire process of NRC is to be completed by  30 June. As per the notification, the decision of extension was taken as the entire process could not be completed within the specified date of December 31, 2018.

The Registrar General of India, Sailesh mentioned in the notification that, “The central government has considered it necessary and expedient in the public interest to complete the said enumeration in connection with the updation of the National Register of Citizens, 1951, by the 30th day of June, 2019.”

The notification further stated: ““Now, therefore, pursuant to the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 4A of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 and in supersession of the notification number S.O.3715(E), dated the 30th July, 2018, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Registrar General of Citizen Registration, hereby, notifies that the enumeration in connection with the updation of the National Register of Citizens, 1951, in respect of the State of Assam shall be completed within the period ending on the 30th day of June, 2019.”

The final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam was released on 30 July, with names of 40, 07,707 persons excluded from the list. There were 3.29 crore applicants. It has included over 28 million individuals, thus giving them a pride of place as citizens, while excluding four million residents of the state. This final draft of the NRC in Assam emerged, provoking both passionate support and outrage.

When the NRC was first prepared in Assam way back in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens. People can file corrections to their names that are in the draft for which forms are available in the 2500 Seva Kendras, although the online cersion for the same has not yet been made available inspite of repeated assurances by the State Coordinator of NRC. The ongoing process of filing claims and objections to the draft NRC still remains December 31, 2018 and after that, the final list is expected to be published.