Options for those excluded from Assam NRC

--Those not in final NRC can appeal to Foreigners Tribunal in 120 days

-- If one loses case in tribunal, they can go to high court, then top court

-- Those not included in final NRC won't be automatically arrested

The 1.9 million people excluded from Assam's controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC), a  list intended to identify illegal immigrants in Assam, will be provided with legal help, NDTV reports quoting Assam government.

The centre has said people whose names don't appear in the final NRC cannot be declared foreigners till all legal options are exhausted. Every person left out of the NRC can appeal to the Foreigners Tribunal, and the time limit to file the appeal has been extended from 60 to 120 days.

The Home Ministry said at least 1,000 tribunals will be set up in phases to hear disputes; 100 tribunals are already open and 200 more will be set up in the first week of September.

If one loses the case in the tribunal, one can approach the high court and then the Supreme Court. No one will be put in detention centres until all legal options are exhausted, the government has said.

Those not included in the final NRC list will not be automatically arrested. They will enjoy every right of an Indian citizen until the foreigners tribunal declares them as foreigners, reports NDTV.

WHAT IS NRC?

The National Register of Citizens (NRC), first published in Assam in 1951, is being updated as per directions of the Supreme Court of India to segregate Indian citizens living in Assam from those who have allegedly entered the state from Bangladesh illegally after March 25, 1971.