THE Assam state committee of the CPI(M) welcomed the verdict by a five-member constitution bench of the Supreme Court, which, after a long judicial process, declared Section 6(A) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as constitutionally valid.

Clause 6(A) was inserted into the Citizenship Act, 1955 by the parliament after the Assam Accord was signed on August 15, 1985. This clause set March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for detecting illegal foreigners in Assam. Opposing this, some organisations from Assam filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Clause 6(A). Considering the potentially grave impact of the case on the social fabric of Assam, the Assam state committee of the CPI(M) submitted its standpoint to the Supreme Court through an Intervention Application (IA No. 26869/2023) and presented a written statement defending the cut-off date.

The Assam state committee of the CPI(M) believes that the verdict delivered today by the five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court is well-considered and reflects the realities of Assam.

With the 1971 cut-off date now upheld as constitutional, the process of finalising the NRC in Assam should be expedited by notifying the final list of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) without further delay. The CPI(M) Assam state committee also believes that, in light of the Supreme Court’s verdict, the implementation of the CAA in Assam should be stopped immediately.