GUWAHATI: In a fresh order the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday asked Prateek Hajela, State Coordinator, National Register of Citizens to carry out sample re-verification of at least 10% of the names included in the final draft NRC.
The Court also asked Hajela to submit a report in this regard and the possible time frame, when such an exercise could begin, if ordered by the Court and the time frame, within which the same could be completed.
The bench took up the matter of whether at the present stage of filing of claims a claimant should be allowed to change the legacy and submit additional documents included in List ‘A’.
It asked Hajela to submit a comprehensive report by 5th September, indicating the feasibility including the time taken and the advantages/disadvantages that may accrue if the aforesaid modification/change of legacy is permitted.
Prabajan Virodhi Manch has welcomed the Supreme Court of India's order. “It is a fact as pointed out in my representation of 26th August, 2018 to the Registrar General of India and State Coordinator of NRC Assam, that there are fundamental flaws in the procedure adopted, which cannot be corrected or rectified through the claims and objection process. The flaws are institutional and intrinsic to the process and can be rectified only through re-verification at the institutional level," said Upamanyu Hazarika, Convenor, Prabajan Virodhi Manch.
“It is a matter of concern that though the flaws and the discrepancies were within the knowledge of the RGI and NRC authorities, however they chose to keep silent and the draft list in the present form, if it becomes final would have included a large number of foreigners. The sample re-verification must be carried out with all honesty and objectivity and should not be a cover-up exercise," added Hazarika.