The Tripura High Court on Thursday disposed of a PIL petition regarding steps taken by the state government to address illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Myanmar, asking the petitioners to wait for some time.
“The court heard us. The court disposed of our PIL and asked us to wait for some time more to see their reply. We will wait for three-four months to see what action the state takes. If the state takes action, we will be satisfied. And the court has given us the liberty to come to the HC again if it refuses to take any action,” said a senior advocate who represented the petitioners–Dr Bijoy Debbarma, an ophthalmologist, and John Debbarma, an activist.
The advocate said the petitioners gave a representation to the state on June 24 asking how the government was going to implement a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs that directed all states to act against illegal immigrants in four stages–detection, adjudication, detention, and deportation.
The advocate added that the petitioners wanted a court direction for the state government to set up robust infrastructure required to implement the four stages.
“Infrastructure is required for these four stages.This is available in Assam, but not in Tripura. For example, if a person is caught on the suspicion that he is an illegal immigrant, a court is needed to decide the matter. This court is called a Foreigners Tribunal, which is available in Assam. In Tripura, there is no Foreigners Tribunal. So a Foreigners Tribunal is required to be set up. Secondly, when a court orders that a man is an illegal immigrant, where will he be held? For this, detention centers are required…,” the advocate explained.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, Advocate-General Shaktimoy Chakraborty said, “The high court disposed of the petition on the grounds of merit, as sufficient time had not been given to the government since the representation was submitted on the same issue.”
The state government has recently identified illegal immigration among its major concerns along with a drug menace and human trafficking.
