GUWAHATI, March 30 � The Government of India is the final authority to determine the documents that can be considered as conclusive proof for determination of citizenship in regard to updating the 1951 National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the State of Assam. The Union Government is yet to finalise the documents for the purpose.
This was the statement made by Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Minister, Assam Accord Implementation Department in the form of a written answer to a question put by Dr Alaka Sarma (AGP) in the State Assembly today.
He also told the House in reply to the same question that the Registrar General of Citizens Registration has not yet notified the work of enumeration based on the Gazette Notification of 2009, for updating the NRC in the State.
The State Government has also not sought any clarification from the Central Government on the cases where no documents like the 1951 NRC and electoral rolls prior to 1971 are available for updating the NRC.
This is in view of the fact that in the modalities submitted to the Government of India it has been proposed that in cases where the 1951 NRC or voters� lists up to 1971 are only partially available or not available at all, other authenticated reports shall be relied upon.
In this regard, the Minister referred to the modalities framed for the purpose. Clause (L) of the modalities said � �In some of the districts records up to 1971 are partially available. This might be a hurdle in determination of eligibility of the persons for entry into the updated NRC. In such cases, other authenticated records shall be relied upon. With regard to the documents which shall be considered conclusive proof for determination of citizenship shall have to be finalized by Government of India.�
It is expected that the Manual of Instructions to be issued by the Registrar General, Citizens Registration, shall contain such instructions. Besides, the Amendment to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizen and Electoral) Rule 2003 in 2009 Rule 4 A, (2) provides that �The Central Government shall, for the purpose, of the National Register of Indian Citizens in the State of Assam, cause to carry out throughout the State of Assam for preparation of the National Register of Indian Citizens in the State of Assam by inviting applications from all the residents, for collection of specified particulars relating to each family and individual, residing in a local area in the State including the Citizenship status based on the National Register of Citizens, 1951 and the electoral rolls prior to the year 1971.�
This clearly shows that besides the residential status other particulars are also required, said the Minister.
