25,000 Bangladeshi Immigrants In Assam Face Uncertain Future After Gauhati High Court Ruling

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• Jan 10, 2025 | Kabita Pathak

People who fail to register before the deadline are at risk of deportation…

Digital Desk: About 25,000 registered Bangladesh immigrants in  Assam are under the threat of deportation after the Gauhati High Court on Thursday dismissed Begum Zan’s appeal for more time to enroll with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO). The Barpeta Foreigners’ Tribunal declared Zan a foreigner on June 29, 2020 but she failed to meet the registration date. The court rejected her plea citing the binding nature of the Supreme Court ruling. 

The problem focuses on the immigration problem of Assam which is dealt under section-6A of the citizenship Act 1955. This clause which was inserted in the bill in 1985 providescitizenship to the immigrants from Bangladesh who had entered into Assam before 1st January 1966. Those who have entered the country or Assam between 1stJanuary 1966 and 25th March 1971, and is declared as a foreigner through a tribunal then such a person shall register with the FRRO within 30 days from the date of the tribunal’s order or within such further period not exceeding 60 days may be allowed as the FRRO deems fit. They are thus barred from acquiring citizenship if they do not register while those who register are granted limited rights, no voting for a period of ten years. After this will categorized as a citizen of the country and acquire citizenship.

Zan’s case comes in the backdrop of Supreme Court’s ruling in October 2024 affirming Section 6A. In the majority opinion it was declared that immigrants belonging to the category 1966-1971 would lost their chances of acquiring the citizenship if they did not register in due time. Justice JB Pardiwala argued for reasonable justice and permitted late registrations. AS Tapadar representing Zan cited minority opinion of Pardiwala, seeking court permission to delay the registration etc.

People who failed to register before the deadline are under the risk of deportation , making up approximately 25,000 people.The high court cannot override the Supreme Court directive, it further reasserted its duty to abide by the apex court decision, which was a step progress in Mustering up adequate legal weapon to counter’s difficult immigration issue.