NRC Assam: Centre Extends the Time for Appeal

A Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday increased from 60 to 120 days the time limit for filing appeals in Foreign Tribunals (FTs) regarding exclusion from the final NRC in Assam. Non-inclusion of a person’s name in NRC does not by itself amount to him/her being declared as a foreigner, the MHA said.

A review meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on the chair decided to amend the rules taking into account the difficulties in filing an appeal within the prescribed time for all those excluded from the final NRC. “The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 are also being amended accordingly,” said a Home Ministry statement.

The meeting was attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the Assam Chief Secretary of Assam and other senior officers.

“Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final NRC, can represent his/her case in front of the appellate authority i.e. Foreigner Tribunals (FTs). Under the provisions of Foreigners Act 1946 and Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964, only Foreigners Tribunals are empowered to declare a person as a foreigner. Thus, non-inclusion of a person’s name in NRC does not by itself amount to him/her being declared as a foreigner,” said the statement issued by the Home Ministry.

The review meeting also decided that the Assam government would make arrangements to provide legal aid to the needy people amongst those excluded from the NRC.

On its part, the Assam government has agreed to set up an adequate number of such tribunals at convenient locations. In order to maintain the law-and-order situation, Central security forces were being provided as per the assessment of the Assam government, the Ministry said.

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