New Delhi: Assam Civil Service officer Hitesh Dev Sharma was on Saturday appointed as the NRC state coordinator in place of Prateek Hajela, who ensured the publication of the final version of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on August 31 under supervision of the Supreme Court. Sharma, who was previously serving as the secretary to the urban development and finance departments, is expected to assume charge on Monday.
On October 18, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to transfer Hajela to his home state of Madhya Pradesh.
The court had not specified the reason for the transfer, leading to speculation that the officer might be apprehending some kind of threat after overseeing the gigantic and sensitive task of finalising the Assam NRC. The Centre on October 24 filed a plea before the Supreme Court asking for more time to transfer Hajela out of the state.
Hajela will relinquish charge as the NRC state coordinator on November 11.
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Following the apex court’s order, the Union cabinet’s appointment committee has already approved the proposal of the central department of personnel and training for inter-cadre deputation of Hajela from Assam-Meghalaya cadre to Madhya Pradesh cadre for three years, official sources said.
The Assam government had also written to the department of personnel and training, stating that it did not have any objection in transferring Hajela.
The updated final NRC, which validates bonafide Indian citizens of Assam, has left out over 19 lakh applicants. It was published under Hajela, a 1995 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre who was appointed the NRC coordinator by the Supreme Court.
Now, Dev Sharma has his task cut out as those who have been excluded from the NRC have 120 days to appeal against it at Foreigners Tribunals. If not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunals, they will have the option to move the high court and the Supreme Court for redressal.
(With inputs from PTI)