Guwahati: The Assam government made the decision to terminate the employment of 200 additional Foreigners’ Tribunal members who had been recruited to resolve claims of individuals who had been excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Friday.
According to a notification released by the Political department of the Assam government,”The Governor of Assam is pleased to convey the approval for Forfeiture of services of the Members of additional 200 Appellate Foreigners Tribunals (who are currently attached to the existing Foreigners Tribunals) w.e.f. 23 September 2022 onwards”.
“The utilization of services of the Members along with the 2000 posts of Ministerial Staff in 200 Appellate Foreigners Tribunals will be considered as and when the NRC gets notified,” the official notification read.
The new NRC list which was issued on August 31, 2019, excluded more than 19.06 lakh people. Those excluded were given the option to apply to the Foreigners Tribunals to demonstrate their Indian citizenship.
In 2019, 200 more members were appointed by the government and attached to the 100 Foreigners’ Tribunals that already exist in Assam.
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court gave the government two weeks to investigate a request for a directive to issue Aadhaar cards to almost 27 lakh people who were added to the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) supplementary list that was released in August 2019.
The matter was postponed for November 9 by a bench led by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit after Attorney General R Venkataramani requested more time to get guidance from the government.
The apex court in its order stated, “The AG is granted two weeks time to seek appropriate instructions in the matter. He may put in a note so that issues can be resolved on the next date”.
“The State government of Assam and the Union of India are denying access to the biometrics of the individuals whose names have been incorporated in the supplementary list dated August 31, 2019, and are therefore not able to access the benefits as would they be entitled to by having an Aadhar Number,” the plea said.
They would be unable to use the state-sponsored programmes, perks, and subsidies because they necessitate mandatory Aadhar registration, according to the appeal.