ORDER : 1. We have heard Shri Prateek Hajela, learned State Coordinator for National Registration (NRC), learned Attorney General for India and Shri Tushar Mehta, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the State of Assam. 2. From the report of the learned State Coordinator submitted in Court today, it appears that Complete Draft NRC was published on 30th July, 2018 and the total number of persons included in the said Complete Draft NRC is 2,89,83,677 leaving a total of 40,70,707 as ineligible for inclusion. Out of the aforesaid 40,70,707 names, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and 2,48,077 names were kept on hold. The district-wise break up has also been furnished along with the report of the learned State Coordinator, details of which need not be mentioned at this stage. 3. The next stage towards publication of the final NRC would be to consider the claims and/or objections that would be filed in respect of inclusions and exclusions as the case may be. 4. The learned State Coordinator has stated before the Court that upto 7th August, 2018, the Complete Draft NRC as published would be available for inspection. Thereafter starting from 8th August, 2018 a process of acquainting the concerned persons with the process of filing of claims and/or objections would be started so that no inconvenience is caused. Receipt of claims and/or objections would start from 30th August 2018 and end on 28th September, 2018. 5. In this regard the Court would like to observe that what has been published is only the Complete Draft NRC which naturally being a draft cannot be the basis of any action by any authority. Filing of claims and/or objections and consideration of the same are dealt with by Clause (6) contained in the Schedule to Rule 4-A(4), namely, Special provisions as to Manner of Preparation of National Register of Indian Citizen of State of Assam. Under clause (6)(3) of the said Schedule, the Local Registrar of Citizen Registration is required to give notice to every person, who has filed his claim or objection, to file any document in support of such claim or objection and to dispose of the claim or objection, as the case may be, after giving the concerned person a reasonable opportunity of hearing. 6. 6. The learned Attorney General for India has submitted that the concerned Ministry of the Government of India is in the process of preparing modalities in the form of standard operating procedures so as to deal with the different dimensions of the exercise of consideration of claims and/or objections so as to ensure that the process that will eventually be adopted is a fair process. 7. The learned Attorney General has also informed the Court that once the modalities are finalized the same will be placed before the Court and this may be possible some time in the middle of August, 2018. 8. We permit the concerned Ministry of the Government of India to go ahead with the exercise undertaken/to be undertaken and report back to the Court with the details of the modalities as may be formulated to appropriately deal with the claims and/or objections that may be filed so as to enable publication of the final NRC. In the preparation of the modalities/standard operating procedure the State Coordinator, Shri Hajela, will be associated at every step of the process. 9. Further orders with regard to the time schedule and different steps that will have to be undertaken will be passed on the next date fixed i.e. 16th August, 2018 at 2.00 p.m. when this Bench will assemble once again. Diary No.20944/2018, 21368/2018, 21377/2018 and 21959/2018 List the matters on 16th August, 2018. I.A. No.10/2013 in W.P.(C) No.274/2009, I.A. No.9/2015 in W.P.(C) No.562/2012 Upon being mention I.A. No.10/2013 in W.P. (C) No.274/2009 and I.A. No.9/2015 in W.P.(C) No.562/2012 are taken on record. List these applications on 16th August, 2018. I.A. Nos. 103961/2018, 105327/2018, 86036/2018, 86040/2018 List the applications on 16th August, 2018.