SC says deadline to finalise Assam NRC will not be extended beyond July 31

The exercise of making the final report of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam has to be completed by the July 31, 2019 deadline, said the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The upcoming general election and exercise of NRC should not be affected, added the Supreme Court and asked the responsible authorities to sit together to plan them.

The chief secretary of Assam government, secretary of Election Commission and the NRC coordinator in the state have been asked by the apex court to hold a meeting to decide how the officials have to be accommodated for the two exercises.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Assam, has been said by the bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R F Nariman that they will ensure that the meeting is held within seven days.

The outcome of the meeting will be informed to the apex court on February 5, when the matter will be taken again to the bench.

Last year in December, the deadline for the completion of enumeration exercise for updating the National Register Citizens (NRC) was extended by 6 months. As per a notification issued by the Office of Registrar General of India, the enumeration is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2019.