Orissa High Court Demands Supplementary Affidavit on Illegal Immigration PIL
The Orissa High Court has taken a firm stance on a public interest litigation concerning illegal immigration. The court specifically requested a supplementary affidavit from the Odisha government. This legal action follows the government's submission that it has already conducted verification drives in multiple districts across the state.
Details of the PIL and Court Hearing
High court lawyer Shivsankar Mohanty filed the PIL. The petition came up for hearing before a division bench on January 13. Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman presided over the proceedings.
The petitioner made serious allegations in the PIL. He claimed that mass illegal immigration has occurred from a neighboring country. Many of these immigrants allegedly reside in Odisha after fraudulently obtaining voter identity cards and other official documents.
Government's Response and Court's Observations
Additional government advocate Debasish Tripathy appeared for the state during the hearing. He informed the bench that the government had already undertaken identification and verification exercises in some districts. Tripathy further stated that the state had filed an affidavit detailing the steps taken so far to address illegal immigration and document misuse.
The bench carefully examined the state's affidavit. The court noted that the affidavit revealed verification results for 2,259 suspects. Most individuals were found to be Indian nationals. However, others could not provide evidence of Indian nationality. Authorities have taken legal action against these individuals. Steps have also been initiated for their deportation to their home country.
Court's Directive and Future Proceedings
Debasish Tripathy provided additional information during the hearing. He stated that further measures had been initiated across the state since filing the initial affidavit. The government intends to disclose these details in the ongoing PIL proceedings.
The bench took note of this development. Consequently, the court sought a supplementary affidavit from the Odisha government. This document will provide updated information on the state's actions against illegal immigration.
Concerns Raised in the Petition
The PIL highlighted significant concerns regarding illegal immigrants in Odisha. The petition stated that their presence poses serious threats to national security. Public safety and the rule of law also face potential risks according to the petitioner's claims.
The Orissa High Court continues to monitor this important issue closely. The supplementary affidavit will play a crucial role in the court's ongoing assessment of the situation.
