Background of the Petition
Former National Register of Citizens (NRC) State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sharma has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a comprehensive re-verification of both the draft and supplementary NRC lists. He alleges large-scale irregularities, including the wrongful inclusion of ineligible individuals and potential software manipulation during the registration process.
What the Court Has Done
A two judge bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Atul Chandurkar admitted Sharma’s plea and issued notices to the:
- Central Government
- Assam State Government
- State Coordinator of NRC
- Registrar General of India (RGI)
These notices mark the beginning of legal proceedings to re-evaluate the accuracy and authenticity of the NRC data.
Why It Matters
The final NRC, released on August 31, 2019, excluded around 1.9 million applicants, including many Bengali Hindus and Muslims. Allegations ranging from forged documents to backend manipulation and misuse of software have surfaced since then. Given Assam’s sensitive political and social context, this petition could significantly impact citizenship validation, identity, and legal status for millions.
