NRC leftouts to get more time for appeal

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 20

Allaying fears among those who could be left out from the final list of NRC in Assam, the government today decided to amend the rules to increase the time limit of filing of appeals in Foreigner’s Tribunals (FTs) from 60 to 120 days and has also assured that adequate arrangements are being put in place for the purpose. 

As the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) comprising of names of genuine resident of Assam is scheduled to be published on August 31, it has also been reiterated that non-inclusion of a person’s name in the final list of NRC does not by itself amount to him or her being declared a foreigner.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), these decisions were taken at a high level “stock taking” meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior officials. 

Noting that under the provisions of Foreigners Act 1946 and Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964 only foreigners’ tribunals are empowered to declare a person foreigner, the MHA in the statement said, “Thus, non-inclusion of a person’s name in NRC does not by itself amount to him/her being declared as a foreigner.” It went on to add that to effectively facilitate the persons excluded from NRC, the state government has impressed upon to establish adequate number of such tribunals at convenient locations.