NEW DELHI, Oct 27 - The Assam government is likely to file an additional application in the Supreme Court seeking reverification of the draft National Register of Citizen (NRC) in certain sensitive areas of the State.
The decision to seek reverification came after officials of the State government and Centre attended a powerpoint presentation that lasted nearly three hours. The presentation was given by State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela at the North Block where top Home Ministry officials, including Union Home Secretary Rajeev Gauba, Register of General of India Shri Sailesh, Joint Secretary (North-east) Satyendra Garg, were in attendance.
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who represents Assam along with a strong delegation of the Assam government led by State Chief Secretary Aloke Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary Home LS Changsan and the State government�s legal team, including the Chief Minister�s legal adviser Santanu Bharali, besides advocate Kapil Sibal, were also present at the briefing that remained inconclusive yesterday.
According to sources, they have taken note of certain issues, which they were not aware about. Hajela explained the process adopted during preparation of the NRC in detail and there were certain aspects the State government was unaware about. �Now that we have come to know the process adopted to prepare the NRC, we will draft our response accordingly,� said an official, who attended the briefing.
The State NRC Coordinator was to make a powerpoint presentation regarding the withdrawal of the five documents from the NRC verification process. The State government will file its response by October 30, as mandated by the apex court. �We will also move an application for reverification of the draft NRC in certain sensitive pockets of the State,� sources said.
As reported, the Supreme Court has already called for a sample verification of the 10 per cent of the names included in the NRC.
Sources confided that they have noticed that certain doubtful cases have been included in the draft NRC, while others have been excluded; hence, there is a need for reverification of the draft NRC in certain areas of the State.
Besides there are certain technical issues that needs further clarification and the State government will bring it to the notice of the Supreme Court, sources added.
Later, talking to newsmen, Santanu Bharali said the NRC Coordinator has explained certain aspects about the process, �which we were not aware about earlier. He has explained the issues with examples and we have taken note of these. This will help in preparation of the affidavit that will be submitted on October 30.�
Asked whether they would still be insisting on inclusion of the five documents, Bharali said that it was a decision of the State government to insist on the 15 documents for verification process and they are going to stand by it. �We are going to insist on 15 documents,� he said.
