New Delhi [India], November 8 : The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Centre on a plea of Jharkhand government against an interim order of the High Court to constitute a fact-finding committee, which includes Central government officers, to look into allegations of illegal immigration into the state from Bangladesh.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah sought response from Centre and petitioner before the High Court on the plea and posted the matter for hearing on December 3.
It has also given liberty to the state to not nominate its members to the Committee till then.
The Jharkhand government has filed an appeal against the High Court's September 20 order constituting a fact-finding committee comprising of officers of the Central government for determining illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
The state government said that the fact-finding committee was appointed despite the fact that a report was submitted by the Deputy Commissioners of 6 Districts (Godda, Jamtara, Pakur, Dumka, Sahibganj, and Deoghar), wherein no such illegal migration was found except in two cases in District Sahibganj, which were being dealt with by the state Authorities.
The High Court addressed a public interest litigation (PIL) in which the petitioner expressed concern about certain tribal communities in the districts of Sahebganj, Pakur, Godda, Dumka, Jamtara, and Deoghar. These tribes, recognized as the indigenous people of the region, have been experiencing a decrease in their population due to what the petitioner described as forceful conversions initiated by Bangladeshi Muslims.