Supreme Court Notices to Centre, State on AAMSU Plea Challenging Foreigners Tribunal Amendment Order, 2019

Guwahati, July 16, 2019:

The All Assam Minority Student's Union (AAMSU) has filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the constitutional validity of the Foreigner's (Tribunals) Amendment Order, 2019 which was issued by the Central Government on May 30th, 2019, in pursuance of its power under Section 3 of the Foreigner's Act, 1946. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and Assam Government returnable by August 16 in response to the petition filed by the AAMSU.

The amendment made earlier this year has made the tribunals the final appellate authority over those who have been left out of the NRC.

It has been contended in the petition that the Order is "violative" of the fundamental

liberties guaranteed under Article 19 and 21 of a large number of persons who have either.

The petitioners have urged that the purpose of setting up such Tribunals for identification of foreigners and determination of Indian citizenship will stand frustrated if unfairness, unreasonableness and arbitrariness is allowed to creep into the procedure and to thwart the entire gigantic exercise.

The final draft NRC is scheduled to be published on July 31 as per the directives of the Supreme Court.

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