Staff Reporter
Guwahati: In a development related to the pending salaries of the members of the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in the state, it was submitted before the Gauhati High Court that as the necessary approval has been received from the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the concurrence of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, the salary for the current month, along with the arrear salary, will be paid to the FT members as well as the staff within a period of one week.
Justice Suman Shyam, who conducted the hearing on June 27 in a case (WP(C)/1754/2015) regarding facilities to FT members, was informed by the Additional Advocate General, D. Mazumdar, that as the necessary concurrence of the Ministry of Finance has now been received, the pending salary will be paid to the members of the FTs as well as the staff within a period of one week from that day.
It should be noted that the Assam government could not pay the salaries of the FT members without the requisite nod from the Union Finance Ministry. The submission by D Mazumdar paves the way for the payment of salaries of FT members and staff, which were pending since April 2025.
During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General of India, R. K. D. Choudhury, in terms of the order passed by this court on June 24, 2025, produced a copy of the communication, dated June 26, issued by the Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, conveying the approval for extension of terms of 64 additional Foreigners Tribunals in Assam. It appears that pursuant to the above exercise, the Under Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs had issued another communication dated June 27 addressed to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam approving the extension.
Taking note of the assurance given by Mazumdar, the Court offered the opinion that no further order is required to be passed in this regard at this stage save and except for observing that the current salary as well as arrear salary be released within a week.
Mazumdar also placed a copy of the communication dated June 26, 2025, issued by the Joint Secretary to the Government of Assam, Political (B) Department, Assam, pertaining to supplying journals to the Members of the FTs. A perusal of the said communication indicated that some concrete steps have been taken by the department to provide the journals, as directed by the court.
The matter is listed again on July 30, 2025, for further orders, on which date a necessary compliance report has to be placed on record.
Also read: Assam: Ensure regular salaries of FT members, directs Gauhati HC
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