AMN NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned for six weeks the hearing of a petition concerning the implementation of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and the issuance of National Identity Cards to people included in the register.
The petition was filed by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and the All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU) through Advocate-on-Record Fuzail Ahmed Ayyubi. A two-judge bench comprising Justice S. M. Narsimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard the matter.
The court deferred the proceedings after noting that responses had not been filed by the Central Government and the Assam Government despite notices having been issued. Government counsel sought additional time to submit their replies, which the court granted.
Appearing for the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, senior advocate Kapil Sibal informed the bench that both the Centre and the Assam government would now have to place their respective responses and objections before the court. He also told the court that the Registrar General of India has already filed its response to the petition and that the Jamiat would file a rejoinder to it.
Sibal further highlighted that six years after the publication of the final NRC, identity cards have still not been issued to those included in the register.
The final NRC for Assam was published on August 31, 2019, following a prolonged exercise aimed at identifying citizens in the state. The process has remained politically and legally sensitive, particularly because of concerns surrounding citizenship, documentation and the status of people excluded from the register.
Reacting to Monday’s proceedings, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani alleged that the delay in completing the NRC-related process and issuing identity cards has contributed to keeping the citizenship issue politically alive. He claimed that the issue has historically been used by communal groups to question the citizenship of Muslims in Assam.
Madani said the organisation has intervened in several matters concerning citizenship and documentation in Assam, including disputes involving Panchayat certificates, citizenship cut-off dates and Section 6A-related issues. He argued that completing the NRC process according to law is necessary to promote peace and protect constitutional principles of equality, fraternity and the rule of law.
According to the Jamiat, Maulana Mushtaq Anfar, president of Jamiat Ulama Assam, has been pursuing cases related to the NRC, Panchayat certificates and Section 6A for around 14 years.
Maulana Mushtaq Anfar, AAMSU president Maulana Kaleemuddin and other office-bearers were present during Monday’s proceedings.
The case is expected to come up again after six weeks, when the government responses are likely to be placed before the Supreme Court.