Jugaldasi Mandal v. The Union of India and 5 Ors

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

Heard Mr. N Haque, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. L Devi, learned CGC appearing on behalf of the respondents in the Union of India as well as for the authorities under the NRC, Ms. U Das, learned Government Advocate for the Deputy Commissioner, Barpeta, Mr. AI Ali learned counsel for the Election Commission of India, Ms. A Verma, learned Special Counsel Foreigners Tribunal for the authorities under the Home Department, Government of Assam as well as the Superintendent of Police (B) Barpeta.

¶2The petitioner, namely, Jugaldasi Mandal has been referred to the Foreigners Tribunal No.2 Barpeta for an adjudication as to whether she is a Page No.# 3/4 person who had entered the State of Assam subsequent to 25.03.1971 from the specified territory and in the resultant process Police Reference IM(D)T Case No.5064/B/98 renumbered as F.T. (2nd) Case No.967/16 was registered.

¶3The Foreigners Tribunal No.2 Barpeta by its order dated 20.02.2019 had opined that the petitioner could not establish that she is a bona fide citizen of India and that she had not entered India after the cutoff date i.e. 25.03.1971.

¶4Before the Tribunal the petitioner produced a Migration Certificate dated

02.06.1964, showing the name of Surendra Mandal, whom the petitioner claims to be her father. But no such material is available that the petitioner is in fact the daughter of Surendra Mandal of the Migration Certificate. Further the petitioner states by referring to a certificate issued by the Panchayat authorities that she got married in the year 1971.

¶5Ms. A Verma, learned counsel for the Home Department, Government of Assam has raised an issue that if the petitioner had got married in the year 1971 as to why her name was also not included in the Migration Certificate dated 02.06.1964. But, at the same time, as the petitioner has produced a certificate by the Panchayat authorities which certified that the petitioner was married in the year 1971, we remand the matter back to the Foreigners Tribunal No.2, Barpeta to give the petitioner an opportunity to adduce further evidence including that of the authorities issuing the Panchayat certificate to establish that she was married in the year 1971 which may lead to a prima facie indication that she existed in the State of Assam around that time i.e. prior to Page No.# 4/4

25.03.1971. The petitioner may also be allowed to examine any further person who may be a witness to her marriage in the year 1971.

¶6Although, we are clarifying that we are not interfering with the order dated

20.02.2019 of the Foreigners Tribunal No.2 Barpeta, however, in the interest of justice, we provide an opportunity to the petitioner to adduce further evidence to prove her existence as on 25.03.1971. In the event, the Tribunal is of the view that the petitioner could establish her appearance before the cutoff date i.e.25.03.1971, a reasoned order be passed and such order shall prevail over the order dated 20.02.2019. If the Tribunal is of the opinion that the petitioner could not establish her existence prior to the cutoff date i.e. 25.03.1971 any appropriate order may be passed.

¶7Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to appear before the Foreigners Tribunal No.2 Barpeta on 13.03.2023.

¶8Writ petition stands disposed of in the above terms.

JUDGE JUDGE

Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/4 GAHC010241932019 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oWP(C)/8059/2019o JUGALDASIoMANDALo W/O-oLToHARANoMANDAL,oD/O-oLToSURENDRAoMANDAL,oR/O-oVILL-o KHAIRABARI,oMOUZA-oGOBARDHANA,oP.S.oBARPETAoROAD,oDIST-o BARPETA,oASSAM,oPIN- VERSUSo THEoUNIONoOFoINDIAoANDo5oORS.o REP.oBYoTHEoSECY.oTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoINDIA,oMINISTRYoOFoHOMEo AFFAIRS,oSHASTRIoBHAWAN,oNEWoDELHI-1 2:THEoSTATEoOFoASSAM oREP.oBYoTHEoCOMM.oANDoSECY.oTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAM oHOMEoDEPTT. oDISPUR oGHY-6 3:THEoDY.oCOMMISSIONER oBARPETA oP.O.oANDoDIST-oBARPETA oASSAM oPIN-o781301 4:THEoSUPERINTENDENToOFoPOLICEo(B) oBARPETA oP.O.oANDoDIST-oBARPETA oASSAM oPIN-o781301 5:THEoELECTIONoCOMMISSIONoOFoINDIA Page No.# 2/4 NEW DELHI TO BE REP. BY CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER OF INDIA NEW DELHI-1 6:THE STATE COORDINATOR OF NATIONAL REGISTRATION ASSAM BHANGAGARH LACHIT NAGAR GHY- Advocate for the Petitioner : DR. B AHMED Advocate for the Respondent : ASSTT.S.G.I. BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ACHINTYA MALLA BUJOR BARUA HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ROBIN PHUKAN Date : 08-02-2023