NEW DELHI, Jan 24 ? The final disposal of the petition seeking scrapping of the controversial IMDT Act is likely to be delayed with the Supreme Court today asking the Central and Assam Governments to file an updated status report on illegal infiltration from across the border. The case has been posted for further hearing in April. A three-member Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India VN Khare today responding to a plea by petitioner Sarbananda Sonowal?s counsel. Ashok Desai asked the two Governments to file an updated status report on the number of illegal migrants and the influx.
The case was posted for final hearing and all the parties concerned were asked to file their replies. The petitioner has challenged the validity of the IMDT Act arguing that its provision runs contrary to the provisions of the Citizenship Act which is in application all-over the country barring Assam. His contention got a boost when Central Government acknowledged that the Act has failed to serve its purpose and hindering the process of detection and deportation of illegal migrants.
At the hearing today, the Assam State Congress Party (APCC) was represented by Salman Khursid, the State Government by GL Sanghvi the United Minority Front (UMF) by Azim Laskar and Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind by Shakil Ahmad Syed among others. Given the stake of the State Congress party and the Assam Government in the case it is poised for interesting turn given that under pressure from its minority lobby Assam Government changed its stand from supporting the scrapping of the Act to its continuance.
The Central Government on its part is banking on the Apex Court to strike down the Act to save itself the embarrassment of having the move of repealing the Act defeated in the parliament, as it is still in minority in the Rajya Sabha. The case which has become a political issue saw the AGP criticising the NDA Government for not calling a joint session of the Parliament to scrap the Act.
With the issue of illegal migration again staging a comeback on the BJP?s agenda, the issue is likely to see some heated debate within the party particularly over tabling a bill in the Parliament for its repeal. The party leaders have been taking the stand that the matter was under the consideration of the Supreme Court and hence they should await its orders.