ORDER :

1. Heard Mr. F. Khan, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. L. Devi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Mr. R.K.D. Choudhury, learned ASGI for respondent No. 1; Ms. Devi for respondent No. 4 as the learned Standing Counsel, NRC; Mr. A. Bhuyan, learned Standing Counsel, ECI for respondent No. 2; Ms. A. Verma, learned Special Counsel, Foreigners Tribunal for respondent Nos. 3 & 6 and Ms. K. Phukan, learned Govt. Advocate, Assam for respondent No. 5.

2. In this petition, the petitioner has challenged the ex-parte order dated 15.06.2013 passed by the learned Foreigners Tribunal, Dibrugarh in F.T. Case No. 150/DBR/2012 (RE. No. 131/2012] by which the petitioner was declared a foreigner under Sec. 2(a) of the Foreigners Act 1946 who had illegally entered into India (Assam) after 25.03.1971.

3. The grievance of the petitioner is that petitioner was not aware of the said proceeding.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has been submitted that the petitioner, who is a resident of Chirang district and had gone to Dibrugarh for work under a contractor. However, after the work, the petitioner came back to his native place in Chirang district. In the meantime, the aforesai