UPDATING Of NRC For Assam Extended Till June 30

GOI has extended the deadline for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the sixth time to June 30 for  the residents of Assam  amidst reports that the NDA government is likely to bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 in Parliament before the term of the government expires next year. The decision was finalised by the Centre after noting the views of Assam BJP leaders. The state  BJP leadership  has convinced the  government that the opposition to the bill by a section of  people  will have no impact on the north-eastern  state as the BJP has  achieved  success  in the  recent Panchayat elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal among others has endorsed the decision to bring the Bill. In a notification, the Registrar General of India said the decision has been taken as the exercise to enumerate citizens in the NRC, a list of Assam’s residents, could not be completed within the specified date of December 31.“The Central Government has considered it necessary and expedient in the public interest to complete the said enumeration in connection with the updating of the NRC, 1951, by the 30th day of June, 2019,” the notification said On December 6, 2013, the government had issued the first notification setting a deadline of three years for completion of the entire NRC process. However, since then, five extensions were given by the government at regular intervals as the exercise has not yet been completed.“Now, therefore, pursuant to the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 4A of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 and in supersession of the notification number S.O. 3715(E), dated the 30th July, 2018, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Registrar General of Citizen Registration, hereby, notifies that the enumeration in connection with the updating of the National Register of Citizens, 1951, in respect of the State of Assam shall be completed within the period ending on the 30th day of June, 2019,” the notification said.The draft NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total 3.29 crore applications. The draft NRC excluded 40 lakh people. The extension of the deadline for updating of NRC  has been taken following the ruling BJP  is facing flak from  some political parties as Hindu Bengalis   reportedly comprising over 60 per cent of the applicants are among the worst  affected. The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the deadline for filing of claims and objections with respect to the NRC. The new date for submitting the forms has been extended from December 15 to 31.(with inputs  from The Assam Tribue)