1000 names to be dropped from NRC The NRC authorities found over 19 lakh people ineligible to be included in the final NRC

Rajiv Konwar, TT, 18.03.20, Guwahati: Names of over 1,000 people who have been found to be either declared foreigners or D-(doubtful) voters or pending cases in different foreigners tribunals may be dropped from the final NRC.

Sources said the NRC authorities here have got the names of these people from the deputy commissioners who had been asked a few weeks ago to check whether declared foreigners, D-voters or people with cases pending in foreigners tribunals have got into the final NRC.

The NRC authorities found over 19 lakh people ineligible to be included in the final NRC published in August last year.

Entry of declared foreigners into final NRC came to light soon after publication of the final NRC.

In September last year, it was found that names of one Jubeda Begum and her two siblings (in Morigaon district), who were declared foreigners by a foreigners tribunal were featured in the final NRC.

Within a week the NRC authorities had to change the inclusion status (in final NRC) of the trio twice in their official website.

The source said the NRC authorities now will submit the names of these over 1,000 people to the Supreme Court, which has been monitoring the update exercise, to take the final call.

The NRC authorities have put on hold its decision to issue rejection certificates to the over 19 lakh people, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state government in the Assam Legislative Assembly had said the rejection certificates would be issued from March 20.

The rejection certificates will be required for the 19 lakh people to approach to foreigners tribunals to fight to establish their citizenship.

Meanwhile, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the persons excluded from the final list of NRC in Assam will be given a fair opportunity to prove their case.

Asked whether the government has any plan or policy or scheme for the nationality verification of such persons, Rai said, “Nationality verification of an illegal immigrant who does not possess a valid travel document is done by the state government/Union territory administration concerned in coordination with the ministry of external affairs before deportation to his/her native country. This is a continuous process under the provisions of The Foreigners Act, 1946 and The Passport (Entry Into India) Act, 1920.”