Indians who moved to Assam to be in NRC, SC told

New Delhi, August 14

Amid concern over a large number of Indians being left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that citizens who moved to Assam from other states before or after March 24, 1971, cut-off date will be included in the NRC.

The government clarified that the concession would be applicable to only those “who do not have any origin in specified territory (Bangladesh)” and they will be included in the NRC “if the citizenship of such persons is ascertained beyond reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the authorities disposing of claims”. In the Standard Operating Procedure drafted to deal with claims of those left out, the Centre said the authorities “will exercise caution to ensure no illegal person’s name is included”. —TNS