Gopal Paul v. The Union of India

ORDER

23.05.2023 (AM Bujor Barua, J) Heard Mr. NK Kalita, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. L Devi, learned CGC for the respondents in the Union of India as well as the authorities under the NRC, Mr. AI Ali, learned standing counsel for the Election Commission of India and Ms. A Verma, learned Special Standing Counsel, Foreigners Tribunal for the Home Department, Government of Assam, as well as the Superintendent of Police (B) Hojai and Ms. K Phukan, learned counsel for the Deputy Commissioner, Hojai.

¶2The petitioner, namely, Gopal Paul was referred to the Foreigners Tribunal Nagaon Court No.10th at Sankardev Nagar, Hojai for rendering an opinion as to whether he is a person who had entered the State of Assam on or after Page No.# 3/5

25.03.1971 resulting in the registration of F.T(D) Case No.787/2015 corresponding to SP's F.T.Case No.731/2014 wherein an opinion dated

15.09.2017 was rendered declaring the petitioner to be a person who had entered the State of Assam from the specified territory on or after 25.03.1971.

¶3Being aggrieved this writ petition is instituted.

¶4In the writ proceeding, the petitioner relies upon the voters list of 1971 of village Erakapili PS Jamunamukh in the Nagaon district which contains the name of Akhil Paul son of Promod at Sl.No.765 and that of Jayanti Rani wife of Akhil at Sl.No.768 where both are shown to be residing in the same House No.10(2). The petitioner claims Akhil Paul of 1971 voters list of village Erakapili to be his father. The petitioner further relies upon the voters list of 2011 of village Era Kapili PS Jamunamukh which contains the name of Jayanti Paul wife of Late Akhil Paul at Sl.No.485 and that of Gopal Paul son of Late Akhil Paul at Sl.No.488 and both are shown to be residing in the same House No.113. As the name of Gopal Paul being the son of Late Akhil Paul and Jayanti Paul being the wife of Late Akhil Paul appear in the same voters list and that the name of Jayanti Paul and Akhil Paul appear in the voters list of 1971 in respect of the same village Era Kapili, the petitioner claims that the burden under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act 1946 has been discharged to prove that he is a citizen of India.

¶5In view of the above, the matter stands remanded back to the Tribunal to allow the petitioner to exhibit the voters list of 1971 as well as 2011 in respect Page No.# 4/5 of village Era Kapili.

¶6Accordingly, the petitioner shall appear before the Tribunal on 07.07.2023.

¶7For the purpose, the petitioner to produce the complete voters list from the year 1971 to 2011 of village Era Kapili for examination of the Tribunal.

¶8The respondents in the Home Department may also make their own verification as to whether the writ petitioner/proceedee Gopal Paul and the Gopal Paul of 2011 voters list of village Era Kapili are one and the same person and submit a report before the Tribunal, if so advised.

¶9The Tribunal upon doing the needful and after examining the evidences and materials shall pass a reasoned order. In the event, the reasoned order is in favour of the petitioner, the same shall prevail over the opinion dated

15.09.2017 of the Foreigners Tribunal Nagaon Court No.10that Sankardev Nagar, Hojai in F.T(D) Case No.787/2015 corresponding to SP's F.T.Case No.731/2014 and if it is against the petitioner, consequential action under the law shall follow.

¶10Till the reasoned order is passed, no coercive action be taken against the petitioner.

¶11The Tribunal is directed to pass individual opinion in respect of the petitioner/proceedee Gopal Paul and not to pass common opinion with any other Page No.# 5/5 person, although the other person may be claimed to be the brother.

¶12Writ petition stands disposed of in the above terms.

¶13Send back the LCR.

¶14A copy of this order be furnished to Ms. A Verma, learned counsel for the Home Department Government of Assam for doing the needful.

JUDGE JUDGE Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/5 GAHC010011192018 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oWP(C)/383/2018o GOPALoPAULo S/O-oLATEoAKHILoPAUL,oVILL-oERAoKAPILI,oP.O-oJAMUNAMUKH,oP.S-o JAMUNAMUKH,oDIST-oHOJAI,oASSAM VERSUSo THEoUNIONoOFoINDIAo MINoOFoHOMEoAFFAIRS,oNORTHoBLOCK,oCENTRALoSECRETARIAT,oNEWo DELHI-o110001 2:THEoSTATEoOFoASSAM oREP.oBYoTHEoCOMMISSIONERoANDoSECRETARYoTOoTHEoGOVToOFoASSAM oHOMEoDEPTT. oDISPUR oGUWAHATI-o781006 3:THEoMEMBER oFOREIGNERSoTRIBUNAL o10THoNAGAONoAToSANKARDEVoNAGAR oHOJAI oASSAM 4:THEoDEPUTYoCOMMISSIONER oHOJAI oDIST-oHOJAI 5:THEoELECTIONoCOMMISSIONoOFoINDIA oNIRVACHANoSADAN oASHOKAoROAD oNEWoDELHI 6:STATEoCOORDINATOR Page No.# 2/5 NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZEN GUWAHATI ASSAM 7:THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE HOJAI DIST SANKARDEV NAGAR HOJAI ASSA Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. N K KALITA Advocate for the Respondent : ASSTT.S.G.I. BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ACHINTYA MALLA BUJOR BARUA HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ROBIN PHUKAN