Kohima, February 18 (MExN): Governor of Nagaland State and Assam, PB Acharya, has directed Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar and Home Commissioner Neihu C. Thur to take immediate action about the alleged issuing of Birth Certificates by Nagaland State officials to people not from the State.
OSD to the Governor today informed in a press note that during the meeting, the Chief Secretary observed that they have received directions from the Supreme Court to follow strictly the legal guidelines in issuing Birth Certificates, in connection with National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The Governor, the OSD stated, expressed his “serious concern” on the issue and “cautioned” the State Government authorities. He also directed to take “immediate action” against the “officials who are responsible for issuing such Doubtful Birth Certificates to those who are not from Nagaland.”
The Governor also observed, the statement noted, that this will “affect the National Security of the North Eastern region, where Bangladeshis and other foreign nationals are reported to have entered in large numbers without proper Visa or necessary records.”
National Register of Citizens (NRC), which is being prepared in Assam for undertaking and updating the national register, the Assam State Coordinator for NRC Prateek Hajela, in his submission to the Supreme Court, has submitted the constraints and difficulties to prepare the NRC within the time limit and to verify all the applicants, he mentioned the authenticity of the proof, like birth certificates, will take time because they were issued from various States.
It was earlier reported that districts like Nagaon, Barpeta, Morigaon and Karimganj of Assam have many applicants with birth certificates from Nagaland.
The Governor has directed the Chief Secretary to take this matter on “war-footing” and to take “serious note” of this and take “immediate action against such officers without any reservation, considering the National Security of the country.”
