JPC on Citizenship Bill to seek extension of time till Winter Session

JPC on Citizenship Bill to seek extension of time till Winter Session

New Delhi: In Assam, the stage is set for publication of the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) later in the day on Monday and according to official sources the process of receiving claims and objections will commence from August 30

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Panel on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 headed by a BJP lawmaker is all set to seek an extension of time till winter session to submit its report. 

The 30 member Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by Rajendra Agrawal will move the request in the Lok Sabha on Monday. 

The NRC of 1951 is being updated in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court to detect illegal immigrants, sources said. 

"We had thought of making the request on last Friday, July 27 but as there was no Lok Sabha proceedings that day due to Guru Poornima, now we will make the request on Monday," a source in the committee said. 

There are various vexed issues those have cropped up before the panel which has 20 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. 

Among others, the panel Swapan Dasgupta, Ramen Deka and Meenakshi Lekhi (all BJP), B Mahtab (BJD), Bhubaneswar Kalita, Sushmita Dev (both Congress), Derek O' Brien (Trinamool) and Mohammad Salim (CPI-M) are examining various aspects of the Bill. 

The JPC was set up on August 11, 2016, headed by BJP MP Satya Pal Singh as the first chairman but after Singh moved as Union MoS HRD, Rajendra Agrawal has been named as the chairman. 

Earlier this year in May, the panel had held meetings and hearing in Silchar in Assam and also in Meghalaya capital Shillong. 

In Guwahati, the panel met the state Governor and also held discussions with 'Migrants', NGOs and other public representatives and stakeholders to hear their views and suggestions on the matters relating to various provisions of the Bill. 

Officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice and others have made separate suggestions on various issues, sources said. 

According to sources, as matters related to the Citizenship Act, 1955 are already "sub judice" in the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been directed to keep the JPC informed and updated on the development in the apex court. 

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on Sunday held an all-party meeting in Guwahati and sought cooperation from all. 
 
 

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