Supreme Court asks Centre to furnish illegal immigrant details
Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to furnish the number of individuals who have been conferred citizenship under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act and details of administrative steps taken to deal with illegal immigration into the country, particularly into northeastern states.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud also directed the government to submit the estimated inflow of illegal immigrants into India, including, but not confined to Assam, after March 25, 1971.
Under Section 6A — a special provision inserted into the Citizenship Act, 1955, as part of the Assam Accord in 1985 — people who migrated to Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, were allowed to register themselves as citizens.
The Supreme Court also demanded to know the number of foreigners detected under the orders of foreigners' tribunals between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, during the resumed hearing of a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of Section 6A.
It also summoned information «in respect of persons who are alleged to have entered India after March 25, 1971, (a) the total number of foreigners' tribunals set up by the central government, (b) the total number of cases disposed of, © the number of cases pending as on date, (d) the average time taken for disposal of cases, and (e) the number of cases pending before the Guwahati High Court on such issues».
The bench asked the Centre to explain as to why Assam was «singled out» for action against illegal migration, especially when West Bengal shares a much larger border with Bangladesh.
«What is the government doing now to ensure an impermeable border?» the bench asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta,
