The Supreme Court today directed Assam government to complete the process of updating and publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) by March one next year.
A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman, which is monitoring the progress in the updation and preparation of the NRC, sought a status report from Prateek Hajela, State Coordinator, NRC, Assam and fixed the matter for hearing on November 11.
The bench is hearing various pleas arising out of its verdict on PILs on influx of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to Assam.
It also granted four weeks time to the Centre and the state government to respond to suggestions made by the court- appointed commissioner and senior advocate Upmanyu Hazarika on steps required to be taken to stop infiltration of illegal migrants from Bangladesh to Assam.
Earlier, the court had referred to a constitutional bench the question whether the children of illegal migrants born here can avail citizenship benefits under the existing law.
The bench had decided to continue monitoring the implementation of its directions.
The apex court had, in December last year, passed a slew of directions, including an order to the Centre to complete fencing work along India-Bangladesh border within three months to check influx of illegal Bangladesh nationals into Assam and streamline the process to deport them back.
It had also laid a time-table for updating of the NRC in Assam so that the entire updated document is published by the end of January, 2016. It appointed a panel of three former High Court judges, headed by Justice Aftab H Saikia, to monitor the NRC updation.
It had asked NRC to consider request for registration in in Assam by persons who were not residents of the state till March 24, 1971, if they provided proof of their citizenship of other Indian states.
"We expect all civic and police authorities to act faithfully and diligently to ensure updation of NRC," it had said.
