Hunufa Begum v. The Union of India and 6 Ors

ORDER

13.02.2023 Heard Shri D. Ghosh, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. L. Devi, learned CGC for the respondent no. 1, Shri G. Sharma, learned State Counsel for the respondent nos. 2, 5 & 7, Shri T. Pegu, learned Standing Counsel, ECI for the respondent nos. 3 & 6 and Shri N. Goswami, learned counsel for the respondent no. 4.

¶2The grievance of the petitioner is the action of the authorities in marking 'D' against the name of the petitioner in the voter list of village Dhaigaon under the 36 No. Dudhnoi LAC. It is the case of the petitioner that such marking was without any notice or intimation or even verification of any documents. It is the case of the petitioner that she is a permanent resident of the village Dhaigaon, PS Krishnai. She Page No.# 3/4 has further claimed that she is presently residing at village Dhaigaon under 36 No. Dudhnoi LAC in the district of Goalpara after marriage. It is the case of the petitioner that due to the action of marking 'D' against her name, she has filed a representation which has not been paid any heed to. The learned counsel for the petitioner accordingly prays for a direction for consideration of her case and direct the appropriate authority for removal of the 'D' from her name.

¶3On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents have submitted that a procedure had been laid down to adjudicate the matter where the persons are aggrieved by marking 'D' against their names in the voter list and the present case can also be dealt with by the same procedure.

¶4Shr T. Pegu, the learned Standing Counsel, ECI has placed before this Court an order dated 18.01.2022 passed by this Court in WP(C)/267/2022 by which a case of similar nature has been disposed of. By the said order, this Court had observed that the issue involved would require factual determination and the appropriate forum would be the concerned Foreigners Tribunal, as a Writ Court in exercise of its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India may not have adequate means and expertise to decide the question of fact which are disputed. It was further directed that the Superintendent of Police of the concerned district would verify the case of the petitioner and thereafter refer the matter to the concerned Foreigners Tribunal which will deal with the matter in accordance with law.

¶5Following the aforesaid order, the present case is also disposed of by directing Superintendent of Police, Border (respondent no. 5) to examine and verify the case of the petitioner and if on such verification it is found that the case of the petitioner is yet to be referred to the concerned Foreigners Tribunal, to immediately refer the case to the concerned Tribunal which in turn would examine the claim of the petitioner.

¶6In view of the prayer made for removal of marking 'D' in the voter list from the concerned No. 36 Dudhnoi LAC, Reference, if not made till now, be made within a Page No.# 4/4 period of 2 (two) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Upon such reference being made, the petitioner may participate in such proceedings and establish his claim before the Tribunal.

¶7The writ petition accordingly stands disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/4 GAHC010182772022 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oWP(C)/6134/2022o HUNUFAoBEGUMo D/OoLATEoTOMSERoALIo@oTOMORoSHEIKH,o W/OoKITABUDDINoSHEIKH,o VILL.-oDHAIGAON,o P.S.-oKRISHNAI,o DIST.-oGOALPARA,oASSAM. VERSUSo THEoUNIONoOFoINDIAoANDo6oORS.o REP.oBYoTHEoSECRETARY,oMINISTRYoOFoHOMEoAFFAIRS,oGOVT.oOFoINDIA,o SHASTRIoBHAWAN,oNEWoDELHI-o110001. 2:THEoSTATEoOFoASSAM oREP.oBYoTHEoSECRETARYoTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAM oHOMEoDEPTT. oDISPUR oGUWAHATI-o781006. 3:THEoELECTIONoCOMMISSIONoOFoINDIA oREP.oBYoTHEoCHIEFoELECTIONoCOMMISSION oNIRVACHANoSADAN oASHOKAoROAD oNEWoDELHI-o110001. 4:THEoDEPUTYoCOMMISSIONER oGOALPARA oP.O.-oBALADMARI o DIST.-oGOALPARA oASSAM oPIN-o783121. Page No.# 2/4 5:THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE (BORDER) GOALPARA DIST.- GOALPARA ASSAM PIN- 7831211. 6:THE ELECTION OFFICER OF DUDHNOI P.O.- DUDHNOI DIST.- GOALPARA ASSAM PIN- 783122. 7:THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF KRISHNAI POLICE STATION P.O.- KRISHNAI DIST.- GOALPARA ASSAM PIN- 783126 Advocate for the Petitioner : MS. D GHOSH Advocate for the Respondent : ASSTT.S.G.I. BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR MEDHI