NRC won’t determine actual inhabitants of state: SC

Hearing a writ petition, the Supreme Court of India said that citizens who are originally inhabitants/residents of the State of Assam and those who are not are at par for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The petitioners sought a direction or clarification to the meaning of the term “originally inhabitants of the State of Assam” appearing in Clause 3(3) of the Schedule (Special Provisions as to manner of Preparation of National Register of Indian Citizen in State of Assam) to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issues of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

The petitioners argued that by the process of verification of the claims for inclusion in the NRC based on the claim to be originally inhabitants of the State of Assam, a superior class of citizens is being created.

The PIL also said that the court’s fear regarding the original inhabitant of Assam, might also have impact on the rights of such persons in the matter of opportunities for education, employment, etc viz – a - viz the second category of citizens i.e. who are not originally inhabitants of Assam.

Observing that all such apprehensions are ‘wholly unfounded’ as the exercise of upgrade of NRC is not intended to be one for identification and determination of who are originally inhabitants of the state of Assam, the court said, “The sole test for inclusion in the NRC is citizenship under the Constitution of India and under the Citizenship Act including Section 6A thereof. Citizens who are originally inhabitants/residents of the State of Assam and those who are not are at par for inclusion in the NRC.”