The Supreme Court directed the Central Government on Thursday to file an affidavit regarding the steps taken at an administrative level to deal with illegal immigration into the North Eastern states, particularly Assam.
The Constitution Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra also sought details from the Union of India with regard to the extent of border fencing and the estimated timelines to complete border fencing.
The Centre was further directed to furnish data on the inflow of illegal migrants to Assam and North-Eastern states after March 25, 1971.
The Apex Court issued the direction on a batch of petitions challenging Section 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955, which was inserted to give effect to the Assam Accord of 1985.
The Bench further sought details from the Union of India on the number of persons who were granted citizenship under Section 6A with reference to the time period of persons coming to Assam between January 1, 1966 to March 25, 1971.
It also asked about the number of persons detected to be foreigners under the Foreigners Tribunals Order 1964 with reference to January 1, 1966 to March 25, 1971.
The Centre was directed to apprise the Court about the total number of foreigner tribunals set by the Union government, total number of cases disposed of, number of cases pending as of date, the average time taken for disposal of cases, and the number of cases pending before Gauhati High Court, with respect of persons entering the North Eastern States after March 25, 1971.
Both the Centre and the State of Assam were directed to file the affidavit by December 11.
Appearing for the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the affidavit would be submitted in a day or two.