'Not Possible': Centre Tells SC Over Collection Of Data Of Illegal Migrants Across Country

Centre has responded to the Supreme Court's queries on the issue of the constitutional validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that the government can't collect data of illegal migrants living in various parts of the country as the entry of foreign nationals is clandestine and surreptitious. The government filed an affidavit in the apex court which is examining the constitutional validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act relating to illegal immigrants in Assam. The Centre said 17,861 people have been granted citizenship under the provision, reported PTI.

Responding to the court's query posed on December 7, the Centre said 32,381 people have been detected as foreigners under the orders of the foreigners tribunal with reference to the period of 1966-1971.

"...illegal immigrants enter the country without valid travel documents in a clandestine and surreptitious manner. "The detection, detention and deportation of such illegally staying foreign nationals is a complex ongoing process. Since entry of such foreign nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to collect accurate data of such illegal immigrants living in various parts of the country," the Centre said while replying to the court’s query about the estimated inflow of illegal immigrants into India, including but not confined to Assam after March 25, 1971.

The government further said that in the last five years (from 2017 to 2022), 14,346 foreigners were deported. The Centre said 100 foreigners tribunal are presently working in Assam and as on October 31, 2023, over 3.34 lakh cases have been disposed of and still 97,714 are pending as on October 31.

The Centre further said the number of cases pending before the Gauhati High Court, arising from the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal, stands at 8,461 as of December 1, 2023.

Notably, on December 7, the top court asked the Centre to provide data on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted Indian citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had asked the state government to provide the data to the Centre for filing an affidavit.

The bench also asked the Centre to inform it about the steps taken to deal with illegal immigration into India, especially the North Eastern states.