Assam, which had faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC which was first prepared in 1951.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for both the Union government and the Assam government, told the Supreme Court on Friday that India cannot be the refugee capital fo the world, thereby seeking to extend the July 31 deadline provided by the Court to finalise the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Mehta, on part of the governments, also sought sample verification of the citizens included in the NRC, saying lakhs of people had been wrongly included earlier in areas bordering Bangladesh due to the involvement of local officers.
The first draft of the NRC for Assam was published on the intervening night of December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2018, in accordance with the top court's direction. Names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore applicants were incorporated then.
Assam, which had faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC which was first prepared in 1951.
1. Seeking extension of July 31 deadline
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NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela informed Supreme Court that it won't be possible to publish the final NRC by July 31, the deadline fixed by Court.
He has stated that the supplementary list will be out only by August 31 and the final consolidated list a week later.
The SC has not passed any order and had fixed hearing on Tuesday to consider Central Government demand for sample re-verification of NRC list for areas bordering Bangladesh. Centre claims that certain illegal inclusions and exclusions have come to its notice. The Court asked the Centre to supply a copy of their application to the State NRC Coordinator.
2. 20% sample re-verification of names
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Additionally, both governments sought a direction for 20% sample re-verification of names included in the final draft NRC in the districts of Assam bordering Bangladesh and 10% sample re-verification of names included in the final draft NRC in the remaining districts.
"Pass an order directing 20% sample re-verification of names included in the final draft NRC in districts of State of Assan bordering Bangladesh and a 10% sample re-verification of names included in the final draft NRC in the remaining districts of Assam," the Centre's plea said.
3. "Human problem with great magnitude"
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The pleas referred to the apex court's 2018 order by which it had said it could consider a re-verification of 10% of the people who were included in the draft NRC.
The top court had termed the issue as "human problem with great magnitude" and asked the state NRC coordinator to submit a report in a sealed cover on the ramification of allowing the claimants to file new sets of legacy documents.
The first draft of the NRC for Assam was published on the intervening night of December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2018, in accordance with the top court's direction. Names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore applicants were incorporated then.
4. An agitated populace
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The Supreme Court-monitored NRC exercise, aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh, was carried out only in Assam, which faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century.
When the NRC was first prepared in Assam in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens.
According to the 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process of identification of illegal immigrants in the state has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in state politics.
A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the All Assam Students Union in 1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in the presence of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
