The Jharkhand High Court Yesterday (August 13th) directed the state government to identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who have taken refuge in six districts of the state. A two-judge bench while hearing a PIL, directed the government to launch a campaign to check the land records and domicile credentials before issuing identity documents like Aadhar card, voter’s ID and ration card to people.
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RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court issued a directive to the state government to identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who have settled in six districts of the state.
The division bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Danish Daniel, which raised concerns about the illegal immigration of Bangladeshi nationals.
The court instructed the Hemant Soren-led government–
“Meticulously verify land records and domicile credentials before issuing identity documents such as Aadhar cards, voter IDs, and ration cards to individuals.”
The bench emphasized
“There is an urgent need for stringent checks to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining these essential documents.”
During the hearing, Danish Daniel highlighted the significant impact of illegal infiltration on the demography of six districts—Deoghar, Dumka, Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda, and Jamtara. He pointed out that the influx of illegal immigrants has led to a notable decline in the tribal population in these regions.
He presented data showing that the tribal population, which was 44.67 percent in 1951, had decreased to 28.11 percent by the 2011 census. Concurrently, he noted that the minority population in the country had increased from 9.44 percent to 22.73 percent during the same period.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 22.
Previously, the bench had directed the District Magistrates (DMs) of the six affected districts to submit reports on the matter to the court.
The DM of Sahebganj district, Hemant Sati, revealed that a Special Investigative Team (SIT) has been formed to identify areas and panchayats that have witnessed an unusual increase in voter registration or population.
PREVIOUSLY IN HIGH COURT
The Jharkhand High Court, on Thursday, issued a stern directive to the state government, urging it to take immediate and decisive action against the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants entering the state, particularly through the Santhal Parganas region.
This direction was delivered by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a petitioner named Daniel Danish.
In its observations, the court expressed concern that
“illegal immigration will be on the rise in view of the present unstable situation in Bangladesh.”
Recognizing the gravity of the issue, the bench emphasized the need for prompt and coordinated action to address this growing challenge.
The court took further steps by ordering that the director of the Intelligence Bureau, the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Chief Election Commissioner of India, and the Director General of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) be made parties to the case. Notices were issued to these officials, directing them to file a response on the matter.
Moreover, the court suggested that the state government undertake sudden inspections of Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards. According to the judges,
“these drives would not only help in identifying illegal settlers but also deter others from trying to come into India illegally.”
This, they argued, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the state’s demographic structure.
The bench highlighted that the state and Union governments must collaborate closely to tackle the problem of illegal immigration.
“In the present scenario of Bangladesh, the situation is going to be more volatile,”
-the judges cautioned, indicating that the problem may worsen if left unchecked.
The case has been scheduled for a subsequent hearing on August 22.
The petition brought to light that a significant number of immigrants from Bangladesh have entered the state via the Santhal Parganas, disturbing the demographic balance in the tribal-populated region.
The petitioner warned that this influx poses a
“serious threat to the sovereignty of the country.”
Further details from the petition revealed that
“illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have made their way into the state through the six districts in the Santhal Pargana—Deoghar, Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahebgunj, and Jamtara,”
-underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.
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