NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela (file photo)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the state government to transfer Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) Coordinator Prateek Hajela to Madhya Pradesh for the maximum period.

A special bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S A Bobde and R F Nariman ordered inter-cadre transfer of Hajela on deputation.

Attorney general K K Venugopal asked SC bench of CJI Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde and R F Nariman whether there was any cause or reason for sending Hajela on deputation.

CJI Gogoi said: "Can any order be passed without cause or reason?" However, the CJI did not mention the cause or reason leading to speculation that Hajela possibly received threat to his life.

Hajela had overseen the mammoth exercise of finalisation and publication of Assam NRC.

The final NRC was released on August 31 with 19,06,657 of the total 3,30,27,661 applicants excluded.

