NEW DELHI: A deeply annoyed Supreme Court on Tuesday threatened to send NRC Assam coordinator Prateek Hajela and Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Sailesh to jail for contempt of court for going to the media on modalities and procedures for receiving objections and claims. The procedure for considering cases of inclusion and exclusion from the NRC is to be finalised by the SC on August 16.

Soaking in the court’s outrage, the two IAS officers got off the hook by apologising profusely and promising not to speak to the media again on the NRC. The court told them that if they wanted to make any statement on NRC, they must seek prior permission. “This is the last time (you went to press), are we clear?” the bench asked them. Taking suo motu cognisance of media interviews by the two, a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Rohinton F Nariman said, “We could have taken a sterner view of the matter, but considering the fact that the process for publication of the final NRC is to be initiated and completed, we refrain from aforesaid action and instead deem it appropriate to direct Hajela and Sailesh to be cautious in future...”

The bench said the statements in the media on modalities and procedure for claims and objections to the draft NRC were “highly improper and touches upon matters which should have formed the subject matter of court’s orders to be passed after submission of the standard operating procedure by the Union government”.

After publication of the draft NRC, the bench had on July 31 said the matter would be taken to its logical conclusion, that is publication of final NRC, but had asked the Centre to frame SOP for receiving and adjudicating claims and objections. It had said no authority would take any coercive step on the basis of the “completely draft NRC”.

A day later, Hajela gave interviews clarifying that fresh documents could be filed along with claims and objections against the draft NRC. Sailesh too was hauled up for saying ample opportunity would be given to all before finalisation of NRC.

Justices Gogoi and Nariman handed over newspapers to Hajela and asked, “What impelled you to give such statements to the press?” Justice Nariman began by asking Hajela, “Are you in any manner concerned with the claims and objections? You are a court-appointed officer. Where is the question of fresh documents? Who are you to say this? Your job is to carry out orders of the court and prepare NRC. As an officer appointed by the court, how did you go to the press? Talking of myself, I am appalled to read this (the interviews).”

Justice Gogoi said, “Who are you to say what will be the modalities and procedure... We are awaiting the Union government... But our courtappointed officer goes and tells the media that any document will be accepted. Sailesh says that all persons will be given ample opportunity... Who are you to say all this?

