200 Additional FTs To Come Up At 79 Locations In 33 Districts Across Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Based on reports submitted by the Deputy Commissioners (DCs), the Home and Political Department of Assam has decided to set up the 200 new Additional Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) at 79 locations in 33 districts across the State.

The deputy commissioners were asked to submit their respective requirements of the additional FTs.

The highest number of 15 Additional Foreigners Tribunals will be set up each in Kamrup (M) and Nagaon; followed by 11 in Hojai; 10 in Darrang; nine each in Cachar, Tinsukia; eight each in Dhubri, Goalpara, Hailakandi, Kamrup, Karimganj, Morigaon, Sonitpur; seven each in Barpeta, Jorhat, Lakhimpur; six in Baksa; five each in Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Golaghat, and Kokrajhar; four each in Udalguri and Karbi Anglong; three each in Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, and Sivasagar; two each in Chirang, Nalbari, South Salmara-Mancachar and West Karbi Anglong; one each in Charaideo, Dima Hasao, and Majuli.

In the run-up to the publication of the final NRC, the State Home and Political Department had earlier planned to set up these 200 Additional Foreigners Tribunals in only eight districts. Then the maximum number of 67 Additional FTs were to come up in Kamrup (Metro); 39 in Nagaon; 31 in Jorhat; 21 in Tezpur; 20 in Silchar; 10 in Dhubri; seven in Kokrajhar; and five in Bongaigaon. However, the Home and Political Department reviewed this decision. The Home and Political Department has already appointed 221 FT Members from the list of selected candidates prepared by the Gauhati High Court recently. A total of 200 of these newly appointed Members are for the newly constituted Additional FTs while 21 Members have been appointed to fill up the vacant posts in the existing Foreigners Tribunals.

After the publication of the final NRC, the role of the FTs is crucial now. People who failed to make it to the final NRC can appeal to any of the FTs within 120 days after they receive the rejection notice from the NRC authority. However, if the ineligible persons from final NRC do not make any appeal by themselves, the district administration is also authorized to refer their names to the FTs. After the hearings and close scrutiny of the relevant documents of the persons concerned, the FT Members will have to deliver the opinions (orders) as to whether the persons are Indians or foreigners and eligible for NRC or not.

At present, Assam has 100 existing Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) for the detection of foreigners. The Assam government had moved the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the setting up of 1,000 Additional FTs before the publication of the final NRC. However, the MHA approved the establishment of 400 Additional FTs. Of these, 200 are to be set up in the first phase and the remaining ones in the second phase. Once the 200 Additional FTs start functioning, the total number of such tribunals will go up to 300. The Additional FTs are expected to become operational by the fag end of October or in November.

Altogether 2,07,311 cases are pending at the FTs till March 31, 2019. Udalguri-1 FT has the highest number of pendency with 8,119 cases. Altogether 19,06,657 persons have been left out from the final NRC.

Also Read: Post-NRC: Assam Government Appoints 221 Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) Members

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