Failure to appoint 1600 candidates selected for FTs raises questions on govt’s sincerity towards detection of illegal foreigners
Covid-19 has turned out to be an “excuse” for many government departments to delay various projects. But one process delayed by the government has put the fate of 1,600 youths of Assam in total uncertainty even as the government sounds confused on the same.
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) updation process was understood to have been conducted by the ruling government under the supervision of the Supreme Court for the benefit of Assam and its people.
But as soon as the process was completed and the final NRC list was released it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Assam government which questioned the credibility of the entire process.
Around 1.9 million of 33 million applicants were excluded from the final NRC draft published on August 31, 2019. Each excluded individual was supposed to be given a "rejection order" stating the reasons for exclusion. After August 31, 2019 the NRC process seems to have stalled and around 1.9 million people are uncertain about their citizenship fates. Accordingly, it was decided that 200 new foreigners’ tribunals (FTs) will be opened in Assam to expedite the process of NRC updation and for hearing the pleas of the people who did not make it to the list.
Since August 2019, the NRC process has been stalled as the applicants whose names did not appear in the list were expected to receive rejection slips from the NRC secretariat which did not happen. It was purported that after the applicants received the rejection slips, the 200 new FTs would start hearing the pleas of the applicants.
Today, 1,600 youths who had appeared for written and computer examinations for the ministerial staff of Grades 3 and 4 levels for the 200 upcoming foreigners’ tribunals in Assam are uncertain about their fates.
A candidate who had passed the exams, talking to G Plus under the condition of anonymity said, “On 11th August 2019 we sat for the written exam. On 30th August we passed the written exams and the practical computer exams were conducted on 31st August, 1st September and 2nd September respectively. The final results were published on 19th September 2019 and 1,600 of the candidates got selected.”
He further added that according to the job advertisement for the posts, the selected list remains valid for appointment from the date of announcement of results for one year or till the date of the next advertisement for the same post, whichever is earlier. As the results were announced on 19th September 2019, according to the advertisement, the result will remain valid for appointment only till 19th September 2020.
The candidates recently protested at the Assam Secretariat but the police chased them off and one of the candidates was asked to submit a memorandum to the Chief Secretary which they did. “But the government thereafter did not respond,” said a candidate adding that they think the government is waiting for the elections to start the stalled NRC process.
State National Register of Citizens coordinator, Hitesh Dev Sarma, recently talking to G Plus had said, “The rejection slips have not yet been issued because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.” The status remains the same even as sources in NRC headquarters said that the process will likely start in October, but they are not sure.
The state was under extended lockdown since March 25, 2020 and the NRC final list was published on 31st August 2019. Yet the rejection slips have not been sent. The process may further take some time as sources in NRC headquarters said that it has been proposed by many to recheck the rejection orders. It is also not clear that post the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, what changes will be made in NRC final list or how will the Hindu minorities who came to Assam before 2014 will get added to the list. The process remains in limbo.
As far as the government is concerned, it certainly looks confused as the top officials of the home department in Dispur said that the 200 foreigners’ tribunals (FTs) for which 1,600 ministerial staff were selected but not appointed will start functioning after the rejection slips are issued to the people whose names are not there in the NRC list. But he was unaware about the status of the appointment of the 1,600 ministerial candidates. Many officials in the chief minister’s office are also still unaware about the situation.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) advisor Sammujal Bhattacharjya recently tweeted against the government’s confusion and said, “Govt’s failure in FT appointment of 1600 selected candidates is shameful. Candidates are worried. Also shows govt’s insincerity in working towards detection & deportation of illegal foreigners. Demand for their immediate appointment.”
After 19th September the results of the selected 1,600 candidates will no longer be valid.