Those left out of NRC will know reasons next month

Guwahati: Those left out of Assam’s final National Register of Citizens will get to know the reasons for their exclusion next month, after which they can file appeals in the foreigners’ tribunals in the state.

The final NRC published on August 31 contained the names of 31.12 million people and excluded 1.9 million. The exercise of updating the NRC was aimed at weeding out illegal immigrants.

“Individuals who were excluded from the NRC will be informed about the reason for their exclusion through letters to be sent to their registered addresses,” a senior NRC official told ET, asking not to be identified. “This process will be wrapped up in November this year and the process of moving to the foreigners’ tribunal will start.”


Those left out of the NRC can approach the foreigners’ tribunals to argue their case for citizenship by providing supporting documents.

The appeals must be filed within 120 days of getting their rejection letters.

The cut-off date for citizenship under Assam’s NRC is March 25, 1971, the date stipulated in the Assam Accord of 1985, signed after a sixyear anti-foreigner movement.

Those who were born in Assam before this date would qualify for inclusion in the NRC as would those whose parents were born in the state before this date and had their names on the voters’ list. Those without proof would not be included in the NRC.