The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied the state permission to suspend work related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in a bid to free up manpower from the process and divert it for election related work during the upcoming general elections.
The State Coordinator of the NRC had submitted a report and the Attorney General Solicitor General had argued that, “from the last date of submission of
nomination till the date of poll, the NRC work should be suspended and such suspension should be also for an anterior period of two weeks.” They argued that this was necessary “for permitting withdrawal of 167 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces currently engaged in NRC work so as to ensure the law and order situation in the country at the time of General Elections”. Additionally it was anticipated “to be a highly surcharged political atmosphere on the eve of the elections wherein hearing of the NRC cases would not be conducive.”
However, the Supreme Court maintained that the NRC process was equally important and could not be ignored or put on the back burner for any reason. In an order passed on Tuesday the SC ruled that 3457 state government officials be kept free for NRC work at the time of elections so that NRC work does not face any hindrance. This would free up around 2000 people who are currently engaged in NRC work for election duty.
The entire order may be read here:
