FTs getting lesser number of cases

Of 1,09,286 cases disposed by tribuls in 12 years, ‘foreigners’ declared in only 25% cases; Of the 28,124 declared foreigners, only 1,077 persons pushed back or deported

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 13: Although a large number of Bangladeshis are illegally staying in Assam, the number of cases being registered against them in Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) has been decreasing. This trend has become prominent since 2011.

In 2005, when the Supreme Court struck down the Illegal Migrants (Determition by Tribul) (IMDT) Act, a total of 1,03,717 cases related to foreigners were pending with different FTs in Assam.

According to official records, from 2006 to 2017, police referred 84,050 fresh cases to the FTs. In 2011, 8,963 cases were referred to the FTs and in 2016, only 2,764 cases were referred to these tribuls. In the same period, a total of 1,87,767 cases (including 1,03,717 pending cases and 84,050 fresh cases) were referred to the FTs and of the total cases referred, 1,09,286 cases have been disposed of by these FTs. Of the 1,09,286 cleared cases, only 28,124 persons have been declared ‘foreigners’ by these tribuls.

Of the 28,124 declared foreigners, 1,077 persons have been pushed back/deported to their country/countries of origin and 2,007 persons have been kept at different detention camps in the State. Now, the obvious question is where have the remaining declared foreigners (excluding those who were already deported or are being kept in detention camps) gone? What has Assam Police done so far to find those ‘missing’ foreigners in the State?

Another interesting fact is that of the total disposed cases in last 12 years, persons were declared as foreigners by FTs in only 25 percent cases. The district and State level screening committees, which were constituted for the purpose of re-examining disposed off cases by FTs whenever necessary, have expressed doubts over rulings handed down by some of the FTs in 30 cases. On this issue, the State government has filed a writ petition in Gauhati High Court.

Sources said while the State government cannot interfere in the works of FTs, but it has often requested these tribuls to speed up the process of disposal of cases.