The case was heard by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, based on a petition filed by Danish Daniel.
Ranchi, Jharkhand: On Friday(21st Sept), the Jharkhand High Court reserved its verdict in a public interest litigation concerning ‘illegal’ Bangladeshi immigrants in the state.
The case was heard by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, based on a petition filed by Danish Daniel.
The petitioner alleged that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were seeking refuge in the Santhal Parganas districts of Jharkhand.
Following arguments from the Union government, the state government, and the petitioner, the bench reserved its decision. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared virtually, informed the court about a proposed high-level fact-finding committee that would include the Union home secretary and the state’s chief secretary.
This panel will discuss the issue and submit its report, Mehta added.
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Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the state government via virtual mode, argued that the timing of the PIL was politically motivated, aimed at influencing the upcoming assembly elections.
Previously, the central government had submitted an affidavit confirming the presence of illegal immigrants in Jharkhand’s Pakur and Sahibganj districts. On September 18, the high court noted that the deputy commissioners of the Santhal Parganas districts had provided incorrect information, falsely stating that there were no illegal immigrants in the area.
The petitioner, Danish Daniel, claimed that Bangladeshi refugees were entering Jharkhand through the porous borders in the Santhal Parganas. He alleged that these refugees were establishing madrasas and settlements, disrupting the livelihood of the local tribal communities.
