Assam NRC: SC Seeks Clarity as 19 Lakh Await Rejection Slips

By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
Oct 03, 2026
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The Centre has informed the Supreme Court of India that rejection slips for around 19 lakh people excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam have not yet been issued because the final NRC is still awaiting formal notification.

The issue remains before the Supreme Court several years after the final NRC list was published in August 2019. The development is significant for applicants whose names were excluded from the citizenship register and who are awaiting official documentation explaining their exclusion.

19.07 Lakh Names Excluded From Assam NRC

The Final National Register of Citizens (NRC) published in Assam in August 2019 contained the names of approximately 3.11 crore applicants.

At the same time, around 19.07 lakh applicants were left out of the final register.

The rejection slips are intended to provide excluded applicants with information concerning the reasons their names were not included in the final NRC. However, the Centre has now told the Supreme Court that this process has not commenced.

Centre Says Final NRC Yet to Be Formally Notified

In an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court, the Registrar General of India stated that the issuance of rejection slips cannot proceed because the final NRC has not yet been formally notified.

The affidavit further said that authorities involved in the NRC process are working on a security mechanism for protecting the NRC database and related information.

The security arrangements are being developed by the state NRC authorities in coordination with the relevant authorities, according to the Centre's submission before the court.

Supreme Court Defers Assam NRC Case to November 6

The Supreme Court was considering a group of petitions concerning the implementation of the final Assam NRC.

During the proceedings, the Assam government sought additional time to submit its response. The Supreme Court subsequently adjourned the matter and scheduled the next hearing for November 6.

The proceedings therefore leave the question of issuing rejection slips unresolved for the time being.

Petitioners Seek Rejection Slips and NRC Cards

The petitions before the Supreme Court have been filed by organisations including the Assam State Jamiat Ulema, All Assam Minority Students Union and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, along with other petitioners.

The petitioners have sought directions for issuing rejection slips to applicants whose names were excluded from the final NRC.

They have also sought the issuance of NRC cards to individuals whose names appear in the final register.

Why Rejection Slips Matter in the Assam NRC Process

Rejection slips are an important part of the NRC process because they can provide excluded applicants with the stated grounds on which their claims were not accepted.

For the nearly 19.07 lakh people excluded from the 2019 final list, the continued delay in receiving such documents has kept an important part of the NRC process pending.

The Centre's latest submission before the Supreme Court indicates that administrative and security-related preparations are still continuing before the next stage can be implemented.

Assam NRC Process Remains Before Supreme Court

The publication of the final NRC in August 2019 marked a major stage in Assam's long-running citizenship documentation exercise. However, several procedural issues connected with the final register remain subject to judicial proceedings.

With the Supreme Court now fixing November 6 for the next hearing, the status of rejection slips, NRC cards and formal notification of the final register is expected to remain under judicial consideration.

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