Drastic fall during 2017-2019 in number of cases referred to FTs across Assam

* AASU: Government is not serious at detecting and deporting foreigners

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: There has been a drastic fall in the number of cases referred to the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) across Assam during 2017 to 2019. While 9,457 cases were referred to the FTs from January 1 to December 31, 2017; the number decreased to 2,051 in 2018. On the other hand, up to November 30, 2019, this number did not even cross the 1,000 mark. Official data show that only 599 cases were referred to the FTs in 2019.

In the last three years, the Border branch of Assam Police referred 12,107 cases to the different FTs across the State. The police refers such cases seeking opinions from the FTs regarding the nationality status of such referred people.

Surprisingly enough, there is no answer with the Government as to why there has been such a drastic decrease in the number of such cases referred to the FTs. When asked as to whether there has been any order restricting the referred cases to the tribunals, a top official of the State Home & Political department replied in the negative.

The Foreigners’ Tribunals are quasi-judicial Courts mandated to hear appeals of those excluded from the final NRC (National Register of Citizens) published on August 31, 2019. Presently, approximately 1.5 lakh cases are pending with the existing 100 FTs in Assam.

Reacting to this issue AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi told The Sentinel, “The Governmnet is not at all serious about the detection and deportation of illegal foreigners from Assam. That is the reason for the decreasing trend in cases referred to the FTs. During the updation of the NRC process, the Government could have definitely referred cases of suspected people to the tribunals. Had it been done, their names would not have figured in the final NRC. According to rules, if anybody’s case is pending in the tribunal his/her and also their children’s names cannot figure in the final NRC. The fact remains that during the updation process, the BJP-led Government cut down the number of such referred cases to the FTs.”

The student leader further said, “It’s an unfortunate development. The BJP in its pre-poll campaign had promised to solve the foreigners issue. But now it’s not moving in the right direction.”

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