NEW DELHI, Nov 22 - The Supreme Court today reserved its order on the validity of the gaon panchayat certificate to make a claim for inclusion of one�s name in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman heard four petitions regarding the panchayat certificate, before reserving its order.
The apex court also decided to hear other matters related to the NRC on November 29 and 30. The petitions regarding the original inhabitant (OI) issue will be heard on November 29, while the petition of the Register General of Citizen Registration (RGCR) for extending the deadline for publication of the draft NRC to July 31, 2018 will be heard on November 30.
Today, the Supreme Court completed the hearing on validity of the gaon panchayat certificate. The court heard counsels of at least four petitioners of which two were supported by the Assam State Jamiat and All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU). The petitioners opposed the Gauhati High Court order and pressed for inclusion of panchayat certificate as a valid document.
Assam State Jamiat general secretary Fazlur Rehman Qasimi told this newspaper that their counsel argued on behalf of Rupanjan Begam and Monowara Bewa challenging the Gauhati High Court�s order.
When contacted, Assam government�s counsel Shuvodeep Roy told this newspaper that the court has identified four issues for hearing, including the validity of gaon panchayat
certificates, original inhabitant, extension of the deadline for publication of the draft NRC and border fencing.
Of these four issues, the hearing of the panchayat certificate matter was concluded today, while the OI and draft NRC publication deadline issues will be heard on the next hearing.
Roy said that both the Assam and Central governments have opposed the petitioners and supported the Gauhati High Court�s order rejecting the validity of the panchayat certificates. They have argued that the panchayat certificate cannot be admitted for inclusion of one�s name in the NRC, he said.
The documents cannot be basis of any official record under the 2003 Citizenship Rule, he said, adding, it cannot also be taken as a valid document under the Evidence Act.
The Central government, represented by Attorney General KK Venugopal, mentioned in the court that the gaon panchayat certificate do not have probative value.
The petitioners in the case included Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, Joint Action Committee for Bengali Refugees, All Assam Ahom Association, Purbottar Hindustani Sanmellan, Assam Sahitya Sabha, Pranab Kumar Mazumdar, All Assam Minorities Students Union, Assam State Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Rupanjan Begam, Sufiya Begum, Monowara Bewa, Assam Women Social Justice Forum, Sonaullah Sheikh, Rubina Bibi and Nur Jahan Begum.
The Gauhati High Court in its order had said that residency certificates issued by gaon panchayat secretaries will no longer be considered as a valid link document for NRC.
An estimated, 48 lakh people are likely to be affected by the high court order, which had created a political storm in the State.
Meanwhile, AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that they have full faith in the Supreme Court and they are confident that a foreigner-free NRC will be produced.