Concerns Raised Over Assam Land Revenue Regulation Amendment Impact on NRC
Legal Expert Calls for Government Intervention
File image of people gathered together for a campaign meeting at Algapur-Katlicherra constituency (Used for representational purpose) (Photo: @NasirHussainINC / X)
Guwahati, Sept 22: Upamanyu Hazarika, a prominent advocate at the Supreme Court and convener of the Prabrajan Virodhi Manch, has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He has raised concerns that the newly proposed definition of “original inhabitant” in the Assam Land Revenue Regulation Amendment, 2026, may undermine the 1971 cut-off date used for identifying foreigners, potentially jeopardizing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process.
In his representation, Hazarika has alerted the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and members of the National Commission on Demographic Change, as well as the BJP’s national general secretary (organisation), about what he perceives as serious consequences stemming from this amendment.
He argues that the revised definition merges indigenous populations with individuals of Bangladeshi or former East Bengal descent into a single category. According to Hazarika, a person could be classified as an “original inhabitant” if their family has resided in the region for three generations prior to January 2006, with each generation counted as 25 years.
“This means that a family that migrated from Bangladesh in 1979 could be recognized as original inhabitants, effectively moving the cut-off year for Bangladeshi migrants from 1971 to 1979,” he stated.
Hazarika further cautioned that this definition could affect the NRC, as the term “original inhabitant” is also referenced in regulations established under the Citizenship Act. He noted that individuals in this category underwent a more lenient verification process during the NRC implementation.
He referenced investigations allegedly conducted by district officials in Nagaon and Kamrup in 2021, claiming that many individuals of Bangladeshi origin were designated as “original inhabitants” and included in the NRC without proper documentation.
Additionally, he pointed to a report from May 8, 2021, by the then State Coordinator of NRC, which suggested that approximately 25 lakh names were added to the register based on insufficient documentation.
The representation also highlighted the issue of encroachment on sattra land. Citing data from the State government, Hazarika mentioned that around 15,288 bighas, or nearly 5,000 acres, of sattra land are currently encroached upon.
He criticized the BJP-led government for failing to fulfill its promise to clear encroachments on sattra land, claiming that only a few areas have seen any action. Instead of implementing measures that could protect encroachers, he suggested that the government should enforce the Assam Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 2010, which prescribes imprisonment of up to five years for land grabbing.
“If the government is genuinely committed to safeguarding sattra land, the definition of 'original inhabitant' should have a cut-off date of 1901, prior to the influx of migrants from East Bengal,” Hazarika concluded.