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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL/APPELLATE JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1020 OF 2017

KAMALAKHYA DEY PURKAYASTHA   AND ORS.                     ...PETITIONER(S)

VERSUS UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.                     ...RESPONDENT(S)

WITH WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1096 OF 2017 WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1095 OF 2017 WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1101 OF 2017 WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1104 OF 2017  WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1147 OF 2017

& I.A.NO.101687 OF 2017 IN SLP(C)NO.13259 OF 2017

J U D G M E N T

RANJAN GOGOI,J.

1. Heard the learned counsels for the parties.

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2. The  writ  petitions  and  the Interlocutory  Application(s)  under consideration  have  been  filed  seeking directions from the Court as to the manner in  which  the  expression  “originally inhabitants  of  the  State  of  Assam” appearing in Clause 3(3) of the Schedule (Special  Provisions  as  to  manner  of Preparation of National Register of Indian Citizen  in  State  of  Assam)  to  the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issues of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, is to be understood and furthermore for directions laying down the procedure by which  such  persons  are  required  to  be identified.

3. Relevant clauses of the Schedule including Clause 3(3) reads as follows:

“2.  Manner  of  preparation  of  draft National  Register  of  Indian  Citizen  in State of Assam—

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(1)(a) …… (b) ………. (c) …………

(2) The  Local  Registrar  of Citizen Registration shall receive the filled up application forms, at  the  same  place  where  the applications are issued, and issue the  receipt  thereof  to  the applicant.

(3) The  Local  Registrar  of Citizen  Registration,  after  the receipt of the application under sub-paragraph (2) shall scrutinize the  applications  and  after  its verification,  prepare  a consolidated  list  thereof  which shall  contain  the  names  of  the following persons, namely—

(a)  person  whose  name appear  in  any  of  the electoral  rolls  upto  the midnight of the 24th day of March, 1971 or in National Register of Citizens, 1951; (b)  descendants  of  the persons mentioned in clause (a) above;

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3.   Scrutiny of applications—

(1) The  scrutiny  of applications  received  under sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 2 shall  be  made  by  comparing  the information  stated  in  the application form with the official records and the persons, of whom the information is found in order, shall be eligible for inclusion of their  names  in  the  consolidated list.  (2) The names of persons who have  been  declared  as  illegal migrants  or  foreigners  by  the competent authority shall not be included in the consolidated list: Provided that the names of persons who  came  in  the  State  of  Assam after  1966  and  before  the  25th March,  1971  and  registered themselves  with  the  Foreigner Registration Regional Officer and who  have  not  been  declared  as illegal migrants or foreigners by the competent authority shall be eligible  to  be  included  in  the consolidated list.  (3) The  names  of  persons  who are originally inhabitants of  the State of  Assam and their children and descendants, who are Citizens of India,  shall  be  included  in  the consolidated  list  if  the citizenship  of  such  persons  is ascertained  beyond  reasonable doubt and to the satisfaction of the  registering  authority; (underlining is ours)

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(4) The  Local  Registrar  of Citizens Registration may, in case of  any  doubt  in  respect  of parental linkage or any particular mentioned  in  the  application received  under  sub-paragraph  (3) of paragraph 2, refer the matter to  the  District  Magistrate  for investigation and his decision and Local  Registrar  of  Citizens Registration shall also inform the same  to  the  individual  or  the family.”   

4. Clause  3(3)  provides  for identification  of  persons  entitled  to  be included  in  the  National  Register  of Citizens (NRC) by a process different from what  is  enumerated  in  Clause  3(2)  and, therefore,  the  said  Clause  i.e.  3(3) constitutes an exception thereto.  Clause 3(3)  contemplates  a  less  strict  and vigorous  process  for  deciding  claims  for inclusion in the NRC insofar as persons who are originally inhabitants of the State  of Assam  are  concerned.   Identification  of persons who are originally inhabitants of

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the State of Assam as against those who are not does not determine any entitlement for inclusion in the NRC which is on the basis of proof of citizenship alone and nothing else.   Neither  does  such  identification confer any special entitlement or benefit. This has, infact, been clarified in several of  the  reports  submitted  by  the  learned Coordinator before this Court.  

5.  The  prayer  made  in  the  writ petitions and the I.As, as admitted in the course  of  the  hearing  by  the  learned counsels  for  the  writ petitioners/applicants,  is  founded  on  an apprehension  that  by  the  process  of verification of the claims for inclusion in the NRC based on the claim to be originally inhabitants  of  the  State  of  Assam  a superior  class  of  citizens  is  being created.  The question who is originally inhabitant of the State of Assam, according

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to the applicants and the writ petitioners, may also have impact on the entitlement of such persons in the matter of opportunities for education, employment etc.  vis-a-vis the second category of citizens i.e. who are not originally inhabitants of Assam.

6.  All such apprehensions are wholly unfounded.  The exercise of upgradation of NRC  is  not  intended  to  be  one  of identification and determination of who are originally  inhabitants  of  the  State  of Assam.  The sole test for inclusion in the NRC is citizenship under the Constitution of  India  and  under  the  Citizenship  Act including Section 6A thereof.  Citizens who are originally inhabitants/residents of the State of Assam and those who are not are at par for inclusion in the NRC.

7.  In view of the above, we do not find any reason to issue any direction or

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clarification as to the meaning of the term “originally  inhabitants  of  the  State  of Assam” as sought for in the present Writ Petitions  and  the  Interlocutory Application(s)  which  are  accordingly disposed of in terms of our directions and observations as above.  

.…...................,J.   (RANJAN GOGOI)

.....................,J.   (ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN)

NEW DELHI DECEMBER 5, 2017