MHA clears air, says people not included in final NRC can be declared foreigners only by Tribunals

The Home Ministry has made it amply clear on Tuesday that any person whose name does not appear in the NRC to be published on August 31, can be declared

The Home Ministry has made it amply clear on Tuesday that any person whose name does not appear in the NRC to be published on August 31, can be declared a foreigner only by a Tribunal.

People who find their names missing in the final NRC will be allowed to appeal against the non inclusion.

The ministry in a statement issued today, said that under the provisions of Foreigners Act 1946 and Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964, only Foreigners Tribunals are empowered to declare a person as a foreigner. Thus, non-inclusion of a person’s name in NRC does not by itself amount to the person being declared as a foreigner, the statement said.

The Assam government would make all necessary arrangements to facilitate such people to appeal their case before the appellate authority or the foreigners tribunals.

As it may not be possible for all those excluded from final NRC to file the appeal within the prescribed time, Home ministry is in the process of amending the rules and double the time limit of filing of appeals in foreigners tribunal to 120 days from the present 60 days.

The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 are also being amended accordingly, the Home ministry statement added.

Centre would provide adequate security personnel as per the state’s requirement to maintain law and order after the release of the final NRC by the end of this month.

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