Getting an impression that Centre does not want to complete NRC work in Assam: SC
Amit Anand Choudhary | TNN | Feb 5, 2019, 18:58 IST
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its disappointment over Centre’s approach towards National Register of Citizens (NRC) work in Assam by seeking suspension of the process by three weeks during general election and said “entire effort of Ministry of Home Affairs is to destroy the process”.
The Centre sought suspension of work to withdraw 167 companies of Central forces involved in NRC work to be deployed for general election duty in March. Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R F Nariman, attorney general K K Venugopal said that the general election would be conducted in nine phases in the country and the central forces deployed for NRC work would not be available after the announcement of election. He said 2500 companies of central forces were deployed in 2014 election but 2700 companies would be required this year to ensure peaceful election.
Responding to query from the bench, the government told that there are total 3000 companies of central forces available. The bench thereafter said that there was sufficient number of armed forces to be deployed for election and NRC work and both could be carried out together. The court slammed the Centre for trying to delay NRC work and said the government seemed hell bent on not allowing the work to continue.
“We are getting an impression that Ministry of Home Affairs does not want to complete NRC work and it comes out with different excuses. Entire effort of MHA is to destroy the process. If you want NRC to go on there are 1001 ways to do it,” the bench said.
The court made it clear that the deadline of July 31 to complete the task would not be extended. “We want the general election to be held peacefully but we also want NRC work to go on along with election. Is it too much to ask from the government,” the bench said.
It directed that adequate number of state government officials which is around 3457 from different ranks be kept free for NRC work. There are around 6000 officials involved in NRC work and the court said that rest of workforce which is over 2000 could be engaged in the election work at the relevant point of time.
“We also request the Election Commission to examine the case of exemption of officers, in the rank of District Magistrates, Additional District Magistrates, etc. as mentioned in the report of the State Coordinator, from transfers which are likely to be made in view of the elections. The Election Commission of India will consider the aforesaid matter keeping in mind that this Court which has consistently monitored the NRC work is of the view that least interference should come in such works so that final NRC is made and published on the stipulated date i.e. 31st July, 2019” the court said.
The court refused to pass order on Centre plea for suspension of NRC work and listed the case for first week of March.
The Centre sought suspension of work to withdraw 167 companies of Central forces involved in NRC work to be deployed for general election duty in March. Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R F Nariman, attorney general K K Venugopal said that the general election would be conducted in nine phases in the country and the central forces deployed for NRC work would not be available after the announcement of election. He said 2500 companies of central forces were deployed in 2014 election but 2700 companies would be required this year to ensure peaceful election.
Responding to query from the bench, the government told that there are total 3000 companies of central forces available. The bench thereafter said that there was sufficient number of armed forces to be deployed for election and NRC work and both could be carried out together. The court slammed the Centre for trying to delay NRC work and said the government seemed hell bent on not allowing the work to continue.
“We are getting an impression that Ministry of Home Affairs does not want to complete NRC work and it comes out with different excuses. Entire effort of MHA is to destroy the process. If you want NRC to go on there are 1001 ways to do it,” the bench said.
The court made it clear that the deadline of July 31 to complete the task would not be extended. “We want the general election to be held peacefully but we also want NRC work to go on along with election. Is it too much to ask from the government,” the bench said.
It directed that adequate number of state government officials which is around 3457 from different ranks be kept free for NRC work. There are around 6000 officials involved in NRC work and the court said that rest of workforce which is over 2000 could be engaged in the election work at the relevant point of time.
“We also request the Election Commission to examine the case of exemption of officers, in the rank of District Magistrates, Additional District Magistrates, etc. as mentioned in the report of the State Coordinator, from transfers which are likely to be made in view of the elections. The Election Commission of India will consider the aforesaid matter keeping in mind that this Court which has consistently monitored the NRC work is of the view that least interference should come in such works so that final NRC is made and published on the stipulated date i.e. 31st July, 2019” the court said.
The court refused to pass order on Centre plea for suspension of NRC work and listed the case for first week of March.
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