Supreme Court extends deadline till July 30 for publication of draft NRC
New Delhi, July 2 : The Supreme Court on Monday extended till July 30 the deadline for the publication of the draft National Register of Citizens in Assam as the earlier deadline of June 30 could not be adhered to in the wake of the flood situation in the State.
Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman gave an extension of one month after going through the report submitted by the State Co-ordinator, NRC, Prateek Hajela, pointing to the difficulties being encountered due to the flood situation.
The bench also permitted the deletion of 1.5 lakh names that were included in the draft part NRC published in early 2017 but later on scrutiny were found to be ineligible to be included in the citizens register.
The names of the 64,000 doubtful voters and 4,500 foreigners will be kept on hold and their descendants will be identified.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the concern for the security of State Co-ordinator Hajela, the court ordered the Assam Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to review his security and extend security cover to him and his family.
The court directed the next hearing of the matter on July 31.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Integrity of electoral process severely compromised, Cong to soon launch movement: CWC
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Working Committee met here on Friday and adopted a resolution alleging the integrity of the entire electoral process was being severely compromised against which the party would soon launch a movement.
In the resolution of the top body of the Congress, the party said free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that was being called into "serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission".
The CWC, which met amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, said the session has been a washout so far because of the Narendra Modi government's "stubborn refusal" to have an immediate discussion on three pressing national issues -- "the recent revelations regarding corruption by a business group, and the violence in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal".
Asked why the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution does not name the business group, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The answer is the Adani group".
"The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission.
"Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these up these public concerns as a national movement," the resolution stated.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Ramesh and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party discussed the political situation in the country for four-and-half hours and adopted the resolution.
He said the CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into electoral performance and organisational matters.
About the Assembly polls results in Maharashtra, Venugopal said the electoral outcome in the state was "beyond normal understanding and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation".
