COMMON JUDGMENT AND ORDER (ORAL)

(M. Sundar, CJ)

[1] Mr. Tungrei Ngakang, learned counsel on record for writ petitioners in all 5(five) captioned ‘Writ Petitions’ (‘WPs’ in plural and ‘WP’ in singular for the sake of brevity and convenience) is before this Court.

[2] Learned counsel for writ petitioners submits that the captioned 5 WPs are directly and squarely covered by a common judgement/order dated 11.03.2026 made in W.P.(Cril.) Nos. 4 to 7 of 2026.

[3] Learned counsel for writ petitioners has placed before this Court a copy of the aforesaid common judgement/order dated 11.03.2026 in W.P.(Cril.) Nos. 4 to 7 of 2026 and reproduction of the same is as follows:

‘IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL

W.P. (Crl.) No. 4 of 2026

Shri. Lalnunmawia Gangte, aged about 26 years, S/o (L) Rochhunga Gangte, resident of Tamu village, P.S. Tamu, Tamu District Mayanmar.

……Petitioner

Vs.

1. Special Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, Manipur Secretariat Complex, Mantripukhri, P.O. & P.S. Heingang, Imphal East District, Manipur – 795002.

2. State of Manipur represented by Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur, Manipur Secretariat Complex, Mantripukhri, P.O. & P.S. Heingang, Imphal East District, Manipur – 795002.

3. Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi – 110001.

4. The Directorate General of Police, Government of Manipur, Manipur Police Head Quarter, Mantripukhri, P.O. & P.S. Heingang, Imphal East District, Manipur – 795002.

5. The Superintendent of Police, Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa, Foreigner Detention Centre, P.S. Lamlong, Imphal East District, Manipur – 795001.

6. The Officer-in-Charge, Moreh Police Station at Moreh, P.O. & P.S. Moreh, Tengnoupal District, Manipur – 795131.

……Respondents

With W.P. (Crl.) No. 5 of 2026

Shri. Lunkhothang Baite alias Lhunkhothang Baite, aged about 46 years, S/o Jamlhun Baite, resident of Tamu village, P.S. Tamu, Tamu District Mayanmar.

……Petitioner

Vs.

[Respondents same as above]

With W.P. (Crl.) No. 6 of 2026

Shri. Jamkholal Mate, aged about 45 years, S/o (L) Thongsei Mate, resident of Tamu village, P.S. Tamu, Tamu District Mayanmar.

……Petitioner

Vs.

[Respondents same as above]

With W.P. (Crl.) No. 7 of 2026

Shri. Janglenpao Baite, aged about 25 years, S/o Ngamtong Baite, resident of Tamu village, P.S. Tamu, Tamu District Mayanmar.

……Petitioner

Vs.

[Respondents same as above]

BEFORE

HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH

For Petitioners :: Mr. Tungrei Ngakang, Advocate

For Respondents :: Mr. Th. Vashum, Deputy Government Advocate for respondent Nos. 1,2,4,5 & 6;

Mr. N. Nongdamba, Advocate for respondent No. 3, led by Mr. Kh. Samarjit, Senior Advocate and Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI)

Date of Hearing :: 11.03.2026

Date of Judgment & Order :: 11.03.2026

COMMON JUDGMENT AND ORDER (ORAL)

(M. Sundar, CJ)

11.03.2026

[1] In the captioned four ‘Writ Petitions’ (‘WPs’ in plural and ‘WP’ in singular, for the sake of brevity and convenience), writ petitioners are citizens of Myanmar and are therefore foreign nationals in Union of India. Writ petitioners entered India along with several others {81 (eighty one) persons in all} and they were arrested on 27.01.2023 at about 4:00 am by police from Moreh Police station. A common FIR (First Information Report) being FIR dated 27.01.2023 bearing FIR No. 4(1)2023, MRH-PS on the file of Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal District, Manipur, was lodged. In and by this FIR, 81 (eighty one) persons in all {including 4 (four) writ petitioners} were alleged to have violated Section 14 of ‘the Foreigners Act 1946 (31 of 1946)’ (hereinafter ‘said Act’ for the sake of convenience and clarity) for alleged illegal entry and stay in Indian territory. Writ petitioners were produced before the ‘Judicial Magistrate First Class, Moreh, Manipur’ (hereinafter, ‘said JM’ for the sake of convenience) on 27.01.2023 i.e., on the same day and the said JM remanded petitioners to judicial custody. Th