Supreme Court refuses to divert NRC-workforce for Panchayat Election

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday denied State Election Commission’s request to “Relax or modify” its February 20 order. The court on February 20 ordered that it will not allow the state to divert any officials engaged in the process of NRC upgradation.

The bench consisting of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman as a concession allowed one Additional District Commissioner to be released from NRC engagements for the local body election.

Justice Gogoi said, “We will not permit to take a single person involved in NRC exercise.” The counsel of the State Election Commission argued in the court that the NRC proceedings and Panchayat elections can be balanced by sharing the workforce. Gogoi in reply to the counsel’s argument asked the election commission to hold election in different phases. As per Business Standard report Gogoi said, “You should have come for this.”

The counsel on election commission’s behalf emphasised on the need of workforce to hold elections, Gogoi replied to the counsel saying, “We cannot allow any interference with NRC work. For heaven sake don’t interfere with the work of NRC.” The bench suggested election commission to outsource its election work or call people from other states.

The Supreme Court on February 20 had directed the Assam government to complete the work on up-gradation of the draft of National Register of Citizens by May 31 and further door to door verification by June 30.