The court also ruled that certificates issued by gaon panchayat secretaries and executive magistrates to married women seeking enrolment in the NRC after migration to other villages can be relied upon by the government, provided the applicants furnish link documents to establish their legacy. Gauhati High Court had earlier declared invalid such certificates issued by gaon panchayat secretaries/executive magistrates. The apex court said such certificates are valid provided the applicants furnish link documents from whom their legacy is being claimed for inclusion. Dismissing all such apprehensions as "wholly unfounded", the court said the exercise of NRC upgrade was not meant to identify "original inhabitants" of Assam but to determine citizenship under the Constitution and the Citizenship Act. "Citizens who are originally inhabitants/residents of Assam and those who are not are at par for inclusion in the NRC," it said.

Source: The Telegraph December 05, 2017 21:22 UTC