STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Following the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the State Home and Political department has reviewed two of its earlier decisions. It has now decided to set up 200 new Additional Foreigners Tribunals in the 33 districts of the State. The deputy commissioners have been asked to submit their respective requirements of the additional FTs. Earlier, these Additional FTs were to be set up in only eight districts. The department has also decided that the people left out of the final NRC can appeal to any of the 100 existing FTs. Previously, such appeals were to be made to only some designated FTs.
The new decisions were taken at a high-level meet under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political Department) to the Government of Assam Kumar Sanjay Krishna here on Monday and in the presence of Commissioner and Secretary, Home and Political Department, Ashutosh Agnihotri. Also present in the meet were Additional Director General of Police (border branch) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and other senior officials of the Home and Political Department.
Talking to The Sentinel, Additional Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said, “We’ve prepared the roadmap for the post-NRC management.”
He further said, “The members of 200 Additional FTs — selected by the Gauhati High Court — will be appointed shortly.” Once the Additional FTs start functioning, the total number of such tribunals will go up to 300.
Lauding the people of the State for maintaining peace and harmony in the post-publication phase of the NRC, he said, “It’s a good sign for the State.” He also appreciated the roles played by the security personnel including the Assam Police and the paramilitary forces during the period.
As per the earlier decisions the State Home and Political Department in the run-up to the publication of the final NRC, the maximum number of 67 Additional FTs were to come up in Kamrup (M); 39 in Nagaon; 31 in Jorhat; 21 in Tezpur; 20 in Silchar; 10 in Dhubri; seven in Kokrajhar; and five in Bongaigaon.
After the publication of the final NRC, the role of the FTs is crucial now. People who failed to make it to the final NRC can appeal to any of the FTs within 120 days. The administration is also authorized to refer their names to the FTs. After the hearings and close scrutiny of the relevant documents of the persons concerned, the FT Members will have to deliver the opinions (orders) as to whether the persons are Indians or foreigners.
At present, Assam has 100 Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) for the detection of foreigners. The Assam government had moved the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the setting up of 1,000 Additional FTs before the publication of the final NRC. However, the MHA approved the establishment of 400 Additional FTs. Of these, 200 are to be set up in the first phase and the remaining ones in the second phase.
Altogether 2,07,311 cases are pending at the FTs till March 31, 2019. Udalguri-1 FT has the highest number of pendency with 8,119 cases. The 19,06,657 persons have been left out from the final NRC