Court slams Govts over aliens in voters list GUWAHATI – Pulling up the Assam government over illegal migrants from Bangladesh enjoying voting rights in Assam, the Gauhati High Court has asked the State government (Home and Election departments) to explain how the names of two Bangladeshi nationals (Case WP-C-7036/2005) were included in the electoral rolls of 2013. The court was also severely critical of the Centre over the handling of the detection and deportation process of illegal migrants. The court, while hearing the writ petition filed by the two Bangladeshi nationals themselves, also asked the State government to furnish information as to whether in spite of their being Bangladeshi nationals, the authorities would retain the names of the duo in the electoral rolls. “The most shocking revelation made in the affidavit is that the names of the petitioners (Bangladeshi nationals) appear in the voters list of 2013. This can happen only in the State of Assam,” Justice BK Sharma observed in his order. Asking why the Home and Political departments had not taken any step for deportation of the two Bangladeshi nationals, the court observed rather sarcastically, “…or is there a contemplation to allow them to remain in Assam for the remaining period of their lives with voting and other rights and at the same time allowing them to maintain contacts with Bangladesh”. In this particular case, the petitioners came to India in 1997 on Bangladesh government passports, and managed to stay in Assam after the expiry of their visa way back in 1997, and even managed to get their names enrolled in the electoral rolls of 2013. Ironically, all this happened during pendency of their earlier case registered with Panbazar Police Station (GR case No. 2,649/1998) under Sec 14 of the Foreigners Act. “…yet the respondents, both State and the Union have not shown any concern, rather they have chosen not to respond to this proceeding….the non-responsive attitude of the respondents owes an explanation to this court. If this is the manner and method in which the Government of India and the Government of Assam deal with issues relating to illegal migrant, God alone can save the State of Assam, and for that matter, the indigenous people of the State from the onslaught of illegal Bangladeshi migrants,” the court noted. Castigating the governments, the court further said that the matter had been pending since 2005 but there was no response from both the State and the Union governments to the proceeding till passing of the order dated June 12, 2013. “Even after the rejection of their prayer for extension of visa way back in 1997, both governments could not muster the courage and will to apprehend them, not to speak of their deportation. Had it been any other country, the petitioners would have been sent back to their country of origin immediately on expiry of visa period,” it said. The court observed that if this was the situation in Guwahati itself, it could well be imagined as to what could be the state of affairs in respect of illegal Bangladeshi migrants staying in interior and remote places. The court also asked the State government to appaise the court about the steps taken for early disposal of the GR case (No. 2,649/98) and the present status of the same.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 22:08:51 +0000
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