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).

News source: The Hindu