Supreme Court directs Centre and Assam to respond to NRC identity card petitions

The Supreme Court of India has directed the central government and the Assam government to file counter affidavits within six weeks regarding a series of petitions concerning the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The petitions, filed by groups including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the All Assam Minority Students' Union, seek the implementation of post-NRC procedures. Specifically, they request the issuance of identity cards to individuals included in the final NRC published in 2019.

Petitioners argue that despite the publication of the final list, authorities have failed to complete mandatory legal steps. The court also decided to tag a separate petition filed by former NRC State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma to the ongoing proceedings. Sarma’s plea seeks the re-certification and re-verification of the NRC, alleging inaccuracies in the current list.