Assam NRC Final List 2019: NRC officials in an NRC Seva Kendra (NSK) in Silchar. (Express photo) Assam NRC Final List 2019: NRC officials in an NRC Seva Kendra (NSK) in Silchar. (Express photo)

Assam NRC Final List 2019: The final list of the updated Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published Saturday, leaving out over 19 lakh people out of the 3.3 crore applicants. A total of 3,11,21,004 persons were found eligible for inclusion in the final NRC.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said people excluded from the NRC would get an opportunity to file appeals and be heard in Foreigners’ Tribunals (FT) as per directions from the Union Home Ministry. Follow LIVE updates

Sonowal said those excluded from the Assam NRC final list would now get a time limit of 120 days, extended from 60 days, to file appeals and be heard in the Foreigners’ Tribunals (FT). “As long as the appellant’s plea remains sub-judice with the Foreigners’ Tribunal, he or she cannot be treated as a foreigner,” Sonowal said.

In addition to the 100 Foreigners Tribunals, 200 more will be functional by September 1, state government officials said. If the applicant lose their case before such a Tribunal, he or she can appeal in the High Court, and then the Supreme Court if necessary. Someone who is not only excluded from the final NRC but also loses his or her case in a Foreigners Tribunal, however, faces possible arrest, and the prospect of being sent to a detention centre.,

Around 2500 NRC Seva Kendras (NSK) have been set up across the state. Those excluded in previous drafts can come to check their status by visiting any of these centres between 10 am and 4 pm today.

Read | Assam NRC Final List 2019: How to check if your name is on National Register of Citizens

The Assam government has designated Foreigners Tribunals in all 33 districts for receipt of appeals by those left out of the final NRC. The state government also reiterated that those left out of NRC will not be put into detention camps till the Foreigners Tribunals decides on their Indian citizenship.

“Under the provisions of Foreigners Act, 1946 and Foreigners Tribunal Order, 1964, only Foreigners Tribunals are empowered to declare a person as a foreigner. Thus, non-inclusion of a person’s name in NRC does not by itself amount to him/her being declared as a foreigner,” a notice by Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary to Assam government’s Home and Political Department, has mentioned.

“Persons left out of the final NRC will not be detained under any circumstances till Foreigners Tribunals declare their decisions.”

The FTs are quasi-judicial bodies meant to “furnish opinion on the question of whether a person is or is not a foreigner within the meaning of Foreigner’s Act, 1946”. There are 100 FTs across the state as of now and 200 more will be functional by September 1, the chief minister said.

The Assam government has said it would provide free legal aid to “needy” people whose names do not figure in the final list. The government has said it would make necessary arrangements to provide legal aid to such people through District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA).

“Government of Assam will take care of the cause of the excluded people and due care will be taken so that nobody is subjected to any unnecessary harassment,” Sonowal said.

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