Supreme Court transfers Assam NRC coordinator

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Central government to carry out an inter-cadre transfer of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) coordinator, Prateek Hajela, from Assam to Madhya Pradesh.

Directing the inter-cadre transfer of Hajela, a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S. A. Bobde and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman further directed the Centre to give effect to its order within a week.

“We order for the inter-cadre transfer of Hajela to Madhya Pradesh on deputation for the maximum period permissible under the relevant rules/regulations,” the court said.

It further said, “The notification consequent to the above direction will be issued by the competent authority of the Union of India/State Government forthwith and in any case within seven days from today (Friday).”

Hajela, an IAS officer of principal secretary rank, belongs to Assam cadre. Madhya Pradesh is his home state.

Apparently, the court has ordered Hajela’s inter-cadre transfer for security reasons.

Hajela was the state coordinator of the NRC right from the beginning when the top court had ordered the updating of the citizens register in the border state hit by influx of people from across Bangladesh.

At the outset of the brief hearing that hardly lasted for a couple of minutes, the moment the CJI ordered inter-cadre transfer of Hajela, Attorney General K. K. Venugopal sought to know the reasons for transfer.

“Can there be an order without reason,” quipped the CJI without disclosing any.

Hajela has served in Assam as an IAS officer for 23 years and at president holds the rank of principal secretary — that is equivalent to joint secretary at the Centre.

It may be noted that Friday’s hearing was the last hearing by the bench of Chief Justice of India and Justice Nariman.