SC orders transfer of NRC coordinator to MP (Lead)

New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday ordered inter-cadre transfer of National Register of Citizens (NRC) state coordinator Prateek Hajela to Madhya Pradesh on deputation for the maximum period permissible under the relevant rules.A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the government to notify his transfer within seven days. However, it did not specify the reason for passing the order."Upon hearing Prateek Hajela, State Coordinator, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General and taking into account the totality of the facts of the case, we order for the inter-cadre transfer of Hajela to the state of Madhya Pradesh on deputation for the maximum period permissible under the relevant rules/regulations. 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," said the court. It said all other issues listed for consideration will now come up before the court on November 26. Hajela was appointed the state coordinator to monitor publication of Assam NRC data. He is a native of Madhya Pradesh and a 1995 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
--IANS ak/prs