by Bhupen Goswami 

Guwahati : The Supreme Court has issued notices on two arguments for reviewing the names of new National Register of Citizenship or (NRC) Assam State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma and removal from the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Jamuyat Ulema-e-Hind and all Assam Minority Students ‘ Association had turned to the apex court challenging the circular issued by Sarma in October 2020. In a notification, Sarma had directed the final NRC in Assam to identify and deletion of names. The petitioners had initially filed contempt petitions against Sarma, but in the last hearing, the apex court had asked for amendment to the petitions by removing the prayer for contempt.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Boelder has converted the revised contempt petition. In the main case (NRC Monitoring Bench), the interlocary application and refundable notice has been issued in four weeks. The petitioners were represented by advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate-on-record Fugel Ahmad Ayubi. He has urged the apex court to instruct the NRC state coordinator not to take any steps to remove any of the names involved from the final NRC. In October 2020, Sarma had directed all deputy commissioners and district registrar of citizens registrations in Assam to remove the names of “ineligible persons” belonging to DF (declared foreigners) (categories). Despite the completion of this careful exercise under close supervision by this court, the petition has argued that the cases pending before the Foreigners Tribunal along with their descendants from Assam have been argued.