The Supreme Court is set to announce its decision on Thursday regarding several petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. These petitions primarily contest the Assam Accord provisions, which formed the basis of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) released in 2019. According to the apex court’s schedule, a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud will issue its ruling on October 17.
The five-judge bench, which includes Justices Surya Kant, M.M. Sundresh, J.B. Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, reserved its judgment in December last year after hearing comprehensive arguments. During the proceedings, the Supreme Court asked the Union government about measures taken to curb illegal immigration into northeastern states, notably Assam. The court also requested a joint affidavit from the Union and Assam governments detailing the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted citizenship in Assam from January 1, 1966, to March 25, 1971, under Section 6A(2) of the Citizenship Act.
In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta acknowledged the clandestine entry of illegal immigrants, making it challenging to gather accurate data. The Supreme Court had previously highlighted the core issue: whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, is constitutionally flawed. This section stipulates that individuals of Indian origin who arrived in Assam before January 1, 1966, from the specified territory and have resided there since their arrival shall be deemed Indian citizens as of January 1, 1966.
The upcoming verdict will significantly impact the region’s socio-political landscape, addressing longstanding issues around citizenship and identity in Assam, a region with a complex history of migration and demographic changes.
