The Centre is "hell bent" on stalling the Assam NRC work, the SC said on Tuesday while rapping it for seeking suspension of the process during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls citing non-availability of security forces.

The apex court got irked when Attorney General K K Venugopal submitted that the process be suspended from the last date of submission of nomination papers till two weeks after the date of upcoming elections in view of the fact that 167 companies of CAPF, engaged in Assam NRC work, would be sent to maintain law and order during polls.