Govt to hike time-limit to appeal NRC

In a bid to provide relief to the residents of Assam who find themselves excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be published on August 31, the Union home ministry will amend the citizenship rules to increase the time-limit for filing appeals in foreigners tribunals to 120 days from the existing 60 days. The decision was taken at a review meeting on the NRC chaired by home minister Amit Shah which was attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Registrar General of India Vivek Joshi, among others.

“As it may not be possible for all those excluded from final NRC to file the appeal within the prescribed time, MHA will amend the rules to increase the present time limit of filing of appeals in FTs from 60 days to 120 days regarding exclusion from the final NRC. The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, are also being amended accordingly,” the home ministry said in a release.

It was further decided that in order to facilitate the persons excluded from NRC, adequate arrangements will be made by the state government to provide full opportunity to appeal against their non-inclusion. Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final NRC, can represent his/her case in front of the appellate authority i.e. foreigners tribunals.