NONGPOH: The Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) has expressed concern over the May 15 verdict of Meghalaya High Court which favoured over 40 refugees from Bangladesh residing in Amjong village in Ri Bhoi District who were denied enrolment in the electoral rolls by the district administration citing doubt over their citizenship.
The RBYF said that though it respected the verdict of the Meghalaya High Court, it would still seek the intervention of the State Government in the matter as the Bangladesh nationals were rehabilitated as refugees during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 for a stipulated period of time and not as permanent residents in the scheduled (autonomous) area based on the 6th Schedule of Constitution where the local tribal population has the right to preserve and protect the land and culture.
“Moreover, based on the section 13 of the Citizenship act, 1955, the notification dated New Delhi Feb 25, 2009 from Ministry of Home Affairs, Part VII, section 37 clearly mentions that a certificate of citizenship, in case of doubt under section 13, may be issued in Form XXXIII and shall be signed by an officer not below the rank of Under Secretary to the Govt. of India,” the RBYF said.
“If this notification is true why and how the Meghalaya High Court has directed the district administration to return the documents to 40 refugees in Amjong without going through the notification,” the RBYF questioned.
The Federation demanded that the State Government should contest the verdict in the interest of the indigenous people.
“The Federation has no objection to their Indian citizenship but they cannot be allowed to be settled in our land as permanent residents,” the RBYF said.
The RBYF also thanked Sohra legislator Titos Chyne for raising the matter in the Assembly.
The RBYF also met the Additional District Commissioner who is also the Public Information Officer, Ri Bhoi District to seek information on whether the DC’s Office, Ri Bhoi has appealed against the verdict.