Assam government, parties announce legal aids to "needy" left out of NRC.

Assam government, parties announce legal aids to "needy" left out of NRC.

With just 4days left for the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on August 31, the Assam Govt on Tuesday said that it will provide free legal aid to "needy" people, whose  names do not figure in it, as it sought to assuage the fears of bonafide Indians who appeared losing citizenship.

Besides the government state's ruling BJP & opposition Congress have also come forward to assist bonafide Indians, who are kept out of the NRC.

Non-governmental organisation- citizens for justice & peace (CJP) of civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad has also volunteered to navigate the complex issue of citizenship after publication of the final NRC.

The promise of legal assistance comes in the backdrop of apprehensiom voiced by people, who fear, they could be left  out of the NRC, which many in Assam consider a protective shield for the indigenous people so they are  not confined to detention camps or deported to Bangladesh.

The Assam Govt on Tuesday promised it will make necessary arrangements to provide legal aid to such people through District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA).

Those who left out of the NRC will not be detained"under any circumstances" until the foreigners Tribunals declare them foreigners, said Assam's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

Nothing that under the provisions of the Foreigner's Act 1946 & Foreigners Tribunals Order 1964, only Foreigners Tribunals are empowered to declare a person a foreigner the statement said.
"Therefore non-inclusion of a person's name in NRC does not by itself amount to him/her being declared as foreigner" . For the benefit of those whose names do not appear in the final NRC, appeals can be made under section 8 of schedule to the citizenship (Registration of Citizens & Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules ,2003.

The centre has extended the time limit for filling of appeals from 60 days to 120 days & necessary amendments made to the Foreigner's (Tribunals) Amendment Order, 2019.

200 foreigners Tribunals are being set up shortly for hearing the appeals filed at the destinated foreigners Tribunals, which will be notified by the state government very soon, the statement said.

Another 209 foreigners Tribunals will be set up soon & effort is being made to establish them at convenient places so that filing & hearing of appeals are done smoothly & efficiently, he said.