Unlikely that public opinion will change NRC process: Expert

Senior journalist Prashanta Rajguru opined that if the public consensus is in favour of not including individuals with one 'doubtful voter' as a parent in the NRC, it would mean that the Act would have to be amended, which was highly unlikely.

New Delhi: Shedding light on the latest development in the NRC process, where the authorities are reportedly seeking public opinion on a particular observation of the Supreme Court, senior journalist Prashanta Rajguru opined that it was unlikely to change the process.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Rajguru said: "To be on the safe side, the NRC authority has asked for public opinion on a certain Supreme Court observation. If the public opinion can change the process, then we will require yet another amendment to the Citizenship Act, but it is unlikely as there a provision for that in the law."

Elaborating on the development, Rajguru said that people were getting confused between the 'legal' and 'emotional' aspects of the NRC.

"From the recent notification of the NRC authority, I observed that they are seeking public opinion on a particular observation of the Supreme Court on the Amendment to the 1955 Citizenship Act," he said

"On the basis of Section 3(1) - (a), (b), and (c) of the amendment to the Act, the apex court observed that any individual born after July 4, 1987, and before December 3, 2004, can be declared an Indian citizen if either of his/her parents is not a declared foreigner, is not a doubtful voter, or does not have a pending case in the foreigners tribunal," he added.

However, Rajguru said that the question of whether such individuals can be included in the final NRC, forms the 'emotional' aspect of the issue. He added that if the individual has applied for his/her name to be included in the NRC, it should be done.

"The individual's name can be included in the NRC if the individual uses the legacy of a parent who is a free citizen, regardless of whether the other parent is a 'doubtful' voter, declared foreigner, or has a pending case in the foreigners' tribunal," he said.

The senior journalist further opined that if the public consensus is in favour of not including such individuals in the NRC, it would mean that the Act would have to be amended, which was unlikely as the provision exists in the law.