PTI, NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today sought the views of stakeholders including the All Assam Students Union (AASU), All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, on the modalities and Standard Operating Procedures for filing and disposal of claims and objections regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
It asked the state NRC coordinator to file in a sealed cover the data of district-wise percentage of population, excluded from the NRC draft in the state. The bench also decided not to seek the views of any political party in this regard.
A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said it has considered the SOP for final NRC and wanted the views of all the stakeholders on it.
“At this stage without commenting on any of the modalities suggested on behalf of the Union of India in consultation with the Government of Assam, Registrar General of India and State Coordinator for NRC, we are of the view that the stakeholders ought to be given time until August 25, 2018 to indicate their views in the matter,” it said.
Besides AASU, AAMSU and the Jamat, the court sought views of stakeholders which include petitioners Assam Public Works, Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (an indigenous peoples organisation of Assam), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive), Indigenous Tribal Peoples Federation, All Assam Bhojpuri Parishad and the Joint Action Committee for Bengali Refugees.
It asked the Attorney General K K Venugopal and the state NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela as to who were the stakeholders whose views were taken earlier.
Hajela replied that there was a state sub-committee in 2012-13, which had taken the views of AASU, AAMSU and different political parties on the NRC issue.
The bench said it would not like to seek views of political parties on the issue this time.
The bench said that it has perused the Centre’s SOP and timeline but would not like to comment on it, except that the date for receipt of claims and objections from public on NRC, should be August 30.
