MAJOR DISCREPANCIES Review orders by state foreigners tribunal: HC

The Gauhati high court has asked the Assam government to review orders passed by the state's foreigners tribunals after noting an affidavit by the state administration that in almost 85% cases, those who were declared suspected illegal immigrants were finally found to be Indian citizens.

- Utpal Parashar

The Gauhati high court has asked the Assam government to review orders passed by the state's foreigners tribunals after noting an affidavit by the state administration that in almost 85% cases, those who were declared suspected illegal immigrants were finally found to be Indian citizens.

The order was issued by a bench comprising justices Achintya Malla Bujor Barua and Mitali Thakuria on November 21 - a copy of which was made available on Friday while hearing a petition by Forhad Ali, a resident of Bongaigaon, who was declared foreigner by a tribunal in October 2019.

Ali had approached the high court to appeal against that decision.

Foreigners' tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies in Assam which adjudicate whether a person whose name is missing from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the state or are suspected to be illegal immigrants are Indians or not.