Jharkhand HC Seeks Clarification on CAA Action against Illegal Immigrants from Bangladesh

The Jharkhand High Court has sought the Centre to provide information on whether action can be initiated under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) against illegal immigrants from Bangladesh residing in the Santhal Pargana region of the state.

This direction was issued during the court’s hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a directive to the Union government to address the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state through the CAA.

The CAA, enacted recently, aims to confer citizenship upon undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. A division bench, comprising Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Arun Kumar Rai, was presiding over the PIL filed by Daniel Danish, who raised concerns regarding the infiltration of individuals from Bangladesh into the state.

The petitioner asserted that illegal immigrants have entered the state via its borders and have settled in Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda, Jamtara, and Dumka districts of the Santhal Pargana region. Allegedly, these immigrants have established madrasas and settlements in the aforementioned districts, posing a threat to the indigenous tribal population.

Highlighting that the authority to address this issue lies with the Centre under the CAA, the petitioner emphasized that it is not within the purview of the state government. The bench directed the counsel representing the Union government, Prashant Pallav, to procure instructions on the matter and submit an affidavit clarifying the Centre’s stance.

The case is scheduled to be heard again on May 3.

Previously, the high court had directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to elucidate how illegal immigrants from neighboring countries are able to enter India.