Kabita Hajong v. The Union of India and 7 Ors

JUDGMENT & ORDER (ORAL) (AM Bujor Barua, J)

Heard Mr. S C Das, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. L Devi, learned CGC for the respondents in the Union of India, Mr. KK Parashar, learned standing counsel for the authorities under the NRC, Mr. AI Ali, learned counsel for the authorities under the Election Commission of India, Ms. A Verma, learned Special Standing Counsel, Foreigners Tribunal for the Home Department, Government of Assam, the Superintendent of Police (B) Lakhimpur and the Officer-in-Charge, Boginodi Police Station as well as Ms. U Das, learned Government Advocate for the Deputy Commissioner, Lakhimpur.

¶2The petitioner, namely, Kabita Hajong was referred to the Foreigners Page No.# 3/5 Tribunal II Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur for rendering an opinion as to whether she is a person who had entered the State of Assam from the specified territory subsequent to 25.03.1971 resulting in the registration of Lakhimpur F.T-II.Case No.642/2007.

¶3By the order dated 31.12.2018 of the Foreigners Tribunal II Lakhimpur in Lakhimpur F.T-II. Case No.642/2007 an opinion was rendered that the petitioner is a person who had entered the State of Assam from the specified territory subsequent to 25.03.1971.

¶4Being aggrieved this writ petition is instituted.

¶5Before the Tribunal, the petitioner relies upon the voters list of 1970 of village No.1 Udalguri Jangal Gaon, Mouza Orang, under Udalguri (Sadar) Sub-Division which contains the name of Sundar son of Dunga at Sl.No.20. The petitioner claims that Sundar, son of Dunga of 1970 voters list of village No.1 Udalguri Jangal Gaon is her father. Although many such documents have been relied upon by the petitioner, amongst them, there is also a certificate by the Lat Gaonburah of No.1 Udalguri Janghal village. As the petitioner claims that Sundar son of Dunga of village No.1 Udalguri Jangal Gaon, Mouza Orang, under Udalguri (Sadar) Sub-Division appearing at Sl.No.20 of the voters list of 1970 is her father and the Lat Gaonburah of the same village has certified that Kabita Hajong is the daughter of Sundar Hajong of No.1 Udalguri Janghal PO Dhansiri Bazar, PS Orang in the Udalguri district, the presentation of the materials by the petitioner would be more complete if the Lat Gaonburah is brought before the Page No.# 4/5 Tribunal to make his deposition as to on what material basis, the Gaonburah certifies that the petitioner proceedee Kabita Hajong is the daughter of Sundar Hajong of village No.1 Udalguri Janghal.

¶6Upon the Lat Gaonburah coming forward to make his deposition, the State authorities under the Home Department, Government of Assam may also cross examine the Lat Gaonburah and ascertain the veracity and correctness of the contents of the certificate that Kabita Hajong is the daughter of Sundar Hajong of village No.1 Udalguri Janghal. If any other relevant material is available before the petitioner, the petitioner is at liberty to bring the same before the Tribunal.

¶7Accordingly, the matter stands remanded back to the Tribunal for the limited purpose as indicated above. Upon consideration of the materials, the Tribunal shall pass a reasoned order on the claim of the petitioner. Any order that the Tribunal may pass, if in favour of the petitioner, shall prevail over the earlier order dated 31.12.2018 passed in Lakhimpur F.T-II.Case No.642/2007 and if it is against the petitioner, the implication under the law shall follow.

¶8Till the reasoned order is passed, no coercive action be taken against the petitioner.

¶9Send back the LCR.

¶10Writ petition stands disposed of in the above terms. Page No.# 5/5

JUDGE JUDGE

Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/5 GAHC010094012019 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oWP(C)/2873/2019o KABITAoHAJONGo D/O-oLToSUNDARoHAJONG,oW/O-oSUKUMARoHAJONG,oR/O-oKATORIo CHAPORI,oP.S.oBOGINODI,oDIST-oLAKHIMPUR,oASSAM VERSUSo THEoUNIONoOFoINDIAoANDo7oORS.o REP.oBYoTHEoSECY.,oHOMEoAFFAIRS,oNEWoDELHI,oDELHI-01 2:THEoSTATEoOFoASSAM oREP.oBYoTHEoCOMM.oANDoSECY.oTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAM oHOMEoDEPTT. oDISPUR oGHY-6 3:THEoELECTIONoCOMMISSIONoOFoINDIA oNEWoDELHI-01 4:THEoSPECIALoCOUNSELoFORoNRC oGOVT.oOFoASSAM 5:THEoSPECIALoCOUNSELoOFoFOREIGNERSoTRIBUNAL oGOVT.oOFoASSAM 6:THEoSUPERINTENDENToOFoPOLICE oBORDER oLAKHIMPUR oASSAM oPIN- 7:OFFICER-IN-CHARGE oBOGINODIoP.S. Page No.# 2/5 LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN- 8:THE DY. COMMISSIONER DIST- LAKHIMPUR ASSAM PIN Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. R C DAS Advocate for the Respondent : ASSTT.S.G.I. BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ACHINTYA MALLA BUJOR BARUA HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ROBIN PHUKAN Date : 24-02-2023