Guwahati, November 11, 2019: Hitesh Dev Sharma former joint director, NRC updatation process is now to be the new NRC state Coordinator in Assam. In the initial days, Hitesh Dev Sharma was appointed as joint director for the NRC updatation process. However, in 2013 he was debarred from NRC office due to some internal reasons. Now, surprisingly the same Hitesh Dev Sharma has been appointed as state Coordinator of NRC after the deputation of Prateek Hajela the present State Coordinator of NRC who has been here for an indefinite period. Hajela has been sent back to his parent cadre, Madhya Pradesh. It may be mentioned here that the present Government of Assam and leaders of ruling BJP have been at loggerheads with Prateek Hajela after the publication of the final NRC. In the months running up to August 31 2019, Prateek Hajela had been rendered virtually dysfunctional in his post as NRC State Coordinator with the Government of Assam adopting a policy of non cooperation with him. After the transfer of Prateek Hajela by Supreme Court, the Government of Assam took a prompt decision to reinstate Hitesh Dev Sharma in a more senior position than before. Hitesh Dev Sharma who is known to be very close to the present BJP dispensation. Sources have indicated that Hitesh Dev Sharma who is a ACS officer of Govt of Assam had an internal conflict with Prateek Hajela in the past. These sources have also shared, on the condition of remaining anonymous, that the reason for Sharma’s being debarred from NRC related tasks was because he had shared some confidential documents from the NRC office with certain elements. Under these circumstances, the appointment of Hitesh Dev Sharma as State Coordinator of NRC has become matter of concern for all sections of people who want a complete, inclusive and error free NRC. It is as per the order from the personnel department, Govt of Assam, dated November 9, 2019 that Hitesh Dev Sharma has taken charge as State Coordinator, NRC on from November 11, 2019. However he has not yet actually taken charge due to the non completion of certain formalities.