The Supreme Court’s Notice on NRC
The Supreme Court of India recently served a notice to the central government and the Election Commission, in response to a petition seeking an update to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to include the state of Tripura. The petitioners urged the court to instruct the relevant authorities to revise the NRC, in addition to requesting the construction of a border fence between Tripura and Bangladesh. The purpose of this proposed fencing is to curb the migration of illegal immigrants, which the petitioners argue amounts to “external aggression” and has reduced the native tribal population to a minority.
Understanding the NRC
Originating in Assam in 1951 as a consequence of that year’s census, the NRC is essentially a register of Indian citizens. The register is currently only being updated in Assam, under the Citizenship Act of 1955 and as per the regulations outlined in the Assam Accord. This move follows a Supreme Court order from 2013, which sought to filter out illegal migrants from Bangladesh.
Migration into Tripura: A Historical Perspective
Much of the migration into Tripura took place before Bangladesh’s creation. The present petition appeals to a 1993 three-way agreement signed by the Government of India, the All Tripura Tribal Force, and the Bangladeshi nationals who migrated to Tripura post-March 25, 1971. These individuals lacked the requisite documents authorising their presence in the state. Now, petitioners demand that the cut-off for recognising migrants should be July 1948, based on Article 6 of the Constitution.
Background of Tripura
Tripura was a princely state ruled by the Manikya dynasty and the Tripuri community from the late 13th century until October 15, 1949. The Tripuri community, the largest tribal group, signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian government on this date.
Additionally, other groups such as Reang, Jamatia, Bhil, Orang and Santal migrated to the region at different times. As per the 2011 Language Census, around two-thirds of the state’s total population, numbering approximately 37 lakhs, identified Bengali as their mother tongue.
| Tribe | Migrated from |
|---|---|
| Reang and Jamatia | Chittagong Hill Tracts from parts of Burma |
| Bhil, Orang and Santal | Parts of central India and Bengal |
The Way Forward
In 1979, after years of struggle, Tripura’s tribal people achieved special autonomy provisions, including the formation of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and recognition of their spoken languages. Despite these advancements, the council’s power and the protection of tribal rights have eroded over time, reducing significant differences that once existed between tribal and non-tribal residents.
The process of hearing a petition to deport long-settled migrants is riddled with difficulties. Although the NRC process in Assam has widespread support across multiple political parties, the deportation protocol remains unclear. Given the humanitarian implications of the NRC, it’s crucial to consider its impact before implementing it in states like Tripura, where opinions on the NRC process are divided. Decisions on the NRC should also take into account existing provisions like the Citizenship Act, Foreigners Act, and Passport Act, which detect and deport illegal immigrants in the country.
