SC raps Sarbananda Sonowal over citizens' register

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for allegedly intervening in a matter pertaining to the update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The top court had directed the publication of the draft NRC by March 31, 2018, however Sonowal announced that he would publish the draft by December 31, 2017. The NRC is meant to identify original residents of Assam to check illegal migration.

"We don't appreciate any other authority intervening in the matter of preparation and publication of the draft NRC when this court has been monitoring the process," the bench comprising of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman said.

Taking exception to this development, the apex court observed that "it is not fair to the court" which had "spent a lot of time, money and energy in this matter" since the past two years.

"Last time you had told us that you will do it by March 2018. It is good that you are doing it. But we have an on-record statement of Chief Minister of Assam that the draft NRC will be published in December 2017. Let him supervise then. We will wash off our hands," the bench told Prateek Hajela, state coordinator, NRC Assam.

The bench however accepted the revised date. Sonowal has frequently changed the date of publication, and approved all budgetary allocation to smoothen the process for the draft's publication.