Prateek Hajela
NRC Assam coordinator Prateek Hajela addresses a press conference in Guwahati on Dec 31. 2017.IANS

The Supreme Court on Friday, October 18, ordered transfer of Prateek Hajela, the coordinator to update the NRC of 1951 for Assam, to Madhya Pradesh on deputation for a maximum period. However, the reason behind Hajela's transfer is yet to be disclosed by the apex court.

The order was passed by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde and Rohinton Nariman. The Bench asked the government to notify 48-year-old Hajela's transfer within seven days.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, the government's lawyer, who was present in court asked the Bench: "Is there a reason for this?"

CJI Gogoi replied: "No order will be without a reason."

Today's development came as a surprise for citizens in Assam.

NRC
A lawyer and an indigenous Muslim students organisation filed separate FIRs against Prateek Hajela for "discrepancies" in the final NRC list.IANS

Hajela, whose task was to supervise the massive exercise of revising Assam's citizen's list, was charged with two FIRs. A lawyer and indigenous Muslim students organisation -- All Assam Goriya-Moriya Yuva Chatra Parishad (AAGMYCP) -- filed separate FIRs against Hajela for "discrepancies" in the final updated NRC list.