Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Hunar Gupta, member of BJP Legal Cell, seeking deportation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis settled in Jammu, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Alok Aradhe today granted two weeks time to the State for filing objections and response.
In the PIL, prayer has been made for issuance of directions for shifting all the illegal immigrants of Myanmar and Bangladesh from State to any other place as no refugee camp has ever been declared either by State or by United Nations in J&K.
The prayer has also been made for withdrawal of all benefits given to the illegal immigrants of Bangladesh and Myanmar from the State exchequer and from the scheme and benefits meant for the residents of J&K.
“For the last few years there is abrupt increase in number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. As per the Government version, 13400 Myanmari and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants are living in various areas of State”, the PIL said, adding “the actual figures are much more than the official figures”.
In 1982 the Myanmar Government declared them as non-national which led to their migration to neighbouring Bangladesh, Thailand and even Pakistan. However, they were not welcomed in these countries as well and this led to their influx into India through porous border with Bangladesh.
“Almost 1700 such families comprising approximately 8500 souls are living in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir. In order to encroach upon the State land especially forest areas as well as water bodies, these illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar are first settled in forest areas and near water bodies”, the PIL said, adding “many of the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar have acquired ration card, voter card, Aaadhar cards as well as permanent resident certificates illegally and they are suspected to be involved in various anti-national activities”.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi appearing for the PIL, DB granted two weeks time to State for filling objections/response.
In the meanwhile, in an application filed by Mohd Younus through Advocate Shah Faisel appearing for the residents of Myanmar and Bangladesh seeking intervention in the PIL, Division Bench granted two weeks time to petitioner for filling objections.
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