NRC claims & objections: APW offers suggestions for SOP

Guwahati (Assam), Aug 28, 2018:

Assam Public Works (APW) has offered several suggestions for incorporation in the standard operating procedure (SOP) being prepared for disposal of claims and objections in the update of National Register of Citizens (NRC).

In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on 24^th August, APW president Aabhijeet Sharma called for deputation of one observer in each NRC Seva Kendra (NSK) to oversee hearing of claims and objections, while stressing that every Indian citizen ordinarily residing in Assam should be entitled or eligible to lodge objection against erroneous inclusion of his or her name from the final NRC draft.

The affidavit further suggested that claims and objections of one district should be heard by officials from other district or there should at least be mixing of officials. It particularly stressed that officials of one district should not be allowed to decide claims and objections of the district, even as it appealed to the apex court to engage a third party for conducting quality check of each NSK.

The APW chief prayed for digitising documents investigated by District Magistrate Investigation Team (DMIT) along with Field Verification Report, besides appealing for allowing online objection, besides the option to file objection at DC/SDO offices so that people can file objections without any apprehension or fear.

Sharma also called for providing limited access to the same legacy data so that it can be checked if any person has fraudulently used it, besides helping genuine descendants to bring it to the notice of concerned LRCR through objection.

He said family tree verification report should be uploaded and no application fee imposed.

And in an apparent bid to encourage filing of objection, the affidavit suggested that no penalty should be imposed in case an objection is rejected, while calling for making online necessary data of final NRC draft for enabling public access.

It also pleaded that any information sought by any Indian citizen from NRC authority vis-à-vis inclusion of name of any individual should be provided to him or her within a reasonable time, so that he/she may file objection.

Finally, Sharma called for relaxation of norms to enable inclusion of names of Indian citizens of other States residing in Assam, besides permitting Assam Police (Border) to lodge objection against inclusion of names of alleged illegal migrants in the draft NRC.

The APW president urged the Supreme Court to take into consideration the suggestions provided by him while finalising modalities/SOP for disposal of claims and objections while updating the NRC.