NRC Assam coordinator directive amount to contempt of court: Assam Congress

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GUWAHATI

The Congress on Friday alleged the NRC Assam coordinator’s recent directive to prepare a list of ‘D-voters’ (doubtful voters) amounted to contempt of court as the Supreme Court’s permission was not taken.

Leader of the opposition in the State Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, said the desire of the people of Assam was fulfilled when the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was updated under the apex court’s supervision and both the Centre and the state government share a responsibility towards it.

The incumbent NRC state coordinator (SCNRC), however, has instructed various Deputy Commissioners to prepare a list of ‘D-voters’ or persons facing trial in the foreigners’ tribunals, children younger than 14 years whose one of the parents have dubious nationality.

“Such a directive is tantamount to contempt of the Supreme Court because the SCNRC has not taken the court’s leave to issue the directive,” the Congress leader said.

The apex court has passed no order regarding inclusion or omission of names in the final NRC, he added.

Saikia urged the state government to take the initiative to expeditiously start the appeal process about the final NRC, which was supposed to begin within 120 days of publication of the document on August 31 last year but has remained on hold for over one year.