Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the State for immediate shifting of Myanmar and Bangladesh immigrants to their native places. The DB also issued notices to Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and others.
In the PIL filed by Advocate Hunur Gupta, who is also member of BJP Legal Cell, 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 Nation 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.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Ankesh Chandel appearing for the PIL, the DB issued notices to Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary Home Department, Director General of Police and IG Jammu, which were accepted by Deputy AG Raman Sharma for the respondents, with the direction to file response within two weeks.
Earlier, during the course of arguments, Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi submitted, “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”.
“However, the actual figures are much more than the official figures. In 1982 the Myanmar Government declares 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”, Senior Advocate Sethi said, adding “this led to their influx into India through porous border with Bangladesh”.
“Almost 1700 Rohangia families comprising approximately 8500 souls live in various settlement colonies 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”, he 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”.
“Immediate and necessary directions are required to the respondents for the shifting of these immigrants to their native places”, he submitted.
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