Historic verdict by High Court
SHILLONG: Bangladeshi national who have made Meghalaya their home prior to March 24, 1971, will now be considered as Indians, the High Court of Meghalaya has ruled in a historic judgement passed on May 15.
Justice SR Sen, while passing the judgement also stated that these citizens should also be enrolled in the voters’ list in Meghalaya.
The Court passed the judgment after hearing a petition filed by 40 ‘refugees’ from Bangladesh who were denied enrolment in the voters’ roll by the district administration of Ri Bhoi district citing doubts about their citizenship. These residents hailed from Amjong village near the Assam-Meghalaya border in Ri Bhoi district.
Justice Sen also directed the Ri Bhoi district administration to return the citizenship certificates of the petitioners within one week, which had been seized by the Deputy Commissioner.
Justice Sen also stated that the petitioners herein are no more Bangladeshi citizens and there is no scope to order for their deportation and in such a circumstances and it is the duty of the Government of Meghalaya as well as the Government of India to give them proper rehabilitation and not to disturb their citizenships.
Justice Sen has also directed Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey to enroll the petitioners’ names in the voters’ list before the next elections. It is noteworthy that the State Government had earlier argued that the petitioners and their forefathers were not permanent citizens of the State since they had been rehabilitated temporarily by the Autonomous District Council.