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2017 Supreme(Gau) 1291

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
UJJAL BHUYAN, PARAN KUMAR PHUKAN, JJ.
Abiran Nessa - Appellant
Vs.
Union of India - Respondent
WA No. 200 of 2016
Decided On : 27-03-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. A. Ali, Ms. K. Lahkar, Ms. A. Mahanta, Ms. M. Khatun, Mr. H.R.A. Choudhury
For the Respondents: Mr. G. Pegu

Headnote:

Foreigners Act, 1946 - Section 9 – Allegation – Witnesses – Tribunal - It is seen that notice issued by Tribunal was served upon appellant where after appellant had entered appearance before Tribunal and had filed written statement denying allegation of being a foreigner and contending that she was a citizen of India by birth – Held, From a thorough analysis of evidence adduced on behalf of appellant it is clear that appellant had failed to discharge her burden to prove that she was not a foreigner but a citizen of India - Relevant material facts were not disclosed by appellant and she could not show any document establishing her linkage with whom she claimed to be her father relatable to period prior - It is inconceivable that during her of existence appellants name did not appear as a voter in any of voters list even once – Appeal dismissed

ORDER :

Ujjal Bhuyan, J.

This case was heard on 20.03.2017 and today is fixed for delivery of order.

2. We have heard Mr. H.R.A. Choudhury, learned Senior counsel assisted by Mr. A. Ali, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. G. Pegu, learned Govt. Advocate, Assam.

3. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 29.07.2015 passed by the learned Single Judge dismissing WP(C) No. 2205/2014 filed by the appellant as writ petitioner against the order dated 25.04.2013 passed by the Foreigners Tribunal (3rd), Darrang, Mangaldoi in FT (3) Case No. 686/2012 declaring the appellant to be a foreigner of the post 1971 stream.

4. It is seen that notice issued by the Tribunal was served upon the appellant whereafter appellant had entered appearance before the Tribunal and had filed written statement denying the allegation of being a foreigner and contending that she was a citizen of India by birth. She also examined herself and two other witnesses. She also exhibited three documents. After hearing the matter and on perusal of the materials on record, Tribunal passed the order dated 25.04.2013 declaring the appellant to be a foreigner of post 1971 stream.

5. Aggrieved by the aforesaid order dated 25.04.2013, appellant preferred the related WP(C) No. 2205/2014 before this Court.

6. Primary contention of the appellant before the learned Single Judge was that in the notice issued by the Tribunal to the petitioner, it was stated that appellant was alleged to be a foreigner belonging to the 01.01.1966 to 25.03.1971 stream. Therefore, the Tribunal could not have declared the appellant to be a foreigner of post 1971 stream being beyond the allegation brought to the notice of the appellant by way of the notice. Learned Single Judge did not accept the contention of the appellant and held that as per materials on record, appellant was suspected to be a foreigner of post 1971 stream. Learned Single Judge additionally noted that though Tribunal had recorded the age of the appellant as 35 years on the date of order, she was 52 years of age when the enquiry was conducted against her by the police. Be that as it may, learned Single Judge did not find any justification to overturn the order of the Tribunal. Accordingly, vide order dated 29.07.2015, writ petition was dismissed by the learned Single Judge.

7. Hence, this appeal.

8. Before us also, it is the primary contention of the appellant that when she was charged of being a foreigner belonging to the 01.01.1966 to 25.03.1971 stream, she could not have been declared to be a foreigner belonging to the post 25.03.1971 stream.

9. It is true that in the notice issued by the Tribunal to the appellant on 23.09.2011, it was stated that as per reference made by the Superintendent of Police, Darrang, appellant was alleged to be a foreigner belonging to the 01.01.1966 to 25.03.1971 stream. However, the Tribunal, on going through the evidence and other materials on record, returned a finding that appellant was a foreigner belonging to the post 1971 stream. Learned Single Judge had examined the record where-from he noticed that as per materials on record, appellant was suspected to be a foreigner belonging to the post 1971 stream. Therefore, the reference made was to that effect but the Tribunal mistakenly mentioned that the appellant was alleged to be a foreigner belonging to the 01.01.1966 to 25.03.1971 stream. That apart, learned Single Judge opined that the said discrepancy perhaps had occurred because of absence of prescribed format. Referring to the written statement filed by the appellant, learned Single Judge observed that appellant had nowhere claimed that she was a foreigner belonging to the 01.01.1966 to 25.03.1971 stream.

10. Thus, materials on record, as found by the learned Single Judge, disclosed that appellant was a foreigner who had illegally entered into India (Assam) from the specified territory after 25.03.1971. The reference was also made accordingly.

11. It is trite that non-mentioning o















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