Foreigners Tribunals in Assam

12 Dec 2023

Context: Recently, The Union Government submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that 32,381 people were ‘detected to be foreigners’ by the Foreigners Tribunals in Assam since 1966.

Statistics from Affidavit

17,861 persons registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) this year.
3,34,966 cases were disposed of by 100 FTs operational in Assam.
97,714 cases were pending in FTs.
8,461 cases arising out of FTs were pending before the Gauhati High Court.

What are foreigners tribunals?

Foreigners Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies set up under the Foreigners’ Tribunal Order, 1964 and the Foreigners Act, 1946 to enable state administration (District Collector/superintendents of police (SPs) to refer to a person suspected of being a foreigner.
- It is functioning only in the state of Assam presently.
Power: The Tribunal Possesss Civil Court while trying a suit under The CPC, 1908.
- The Court can summon and request the attendance of any individual and examine him/her on oath.
- The Tribunal can request anyone to produce the necessary documents.
- The Tribunal can commission examining any witness, as and when required.
2019 Amendment to The (Foreigners Tribunals) Order, 1964
- District Magistrates have the authority to establish Foreigners Tribunals in their respective area of operation to determine the legality of a person’s citizenship status
- An individual can now in their own capacity can file an appeal in FTs to prove their citizenship if left out of NRC( Assam).