In Brief
The Court addressed whether the term "originally inhabitants of the State of Assam" in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) rules creates a superior class of citizens with special privileges. The petitioners feared this status would affect entitlements in education and employment. The Court held that while Clause 3(3) provides a less stringent verification process for persons claiming to be originally inhabitants, this identification does not determine NRC inclusion. The sole test for inclusion is citizenship under the Constitution and Citizenship Act. All citizens—whether originally inhabitants of Assam or not—stand equally for NRC inclusion, and no special entitlements flow from such status. The petitions were disposed of accordingly.
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