Telangana High Court Demands Government Clarification on Illegal Immigrant Deportation Petition
The Telangana High Court, sitting in Hyderabad, issued a significant directive on Tuesday, compelling both the Union government and the Telangana state administration to formally articulate their stances regarding a contentious petition. This legal plea explicitly calls for the systematic identification, verification, and subsequent deportation of all illegal immigrants, specifically Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas, currently residing within Telangana's borders.
Court Questions Procedural Oversight and Sets Hearing Date
Presiding over the case, Justice EV Venugopal raised a critical procedural question during the hearing. The judge pointedly inquired why the Union government had not been included as a necessary party to the petition filed by Hyderabad-based advocate Karuna Sagar. In response to this oversight, the court issued a clear order: the Union government must be formally added as a respondent. The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on March 3, allowing time for the required legal adjustments.
Petitioner's Allegations: Fraudulent Documentation and State Benefits
The petition presents a series of serious allegations. Advocate Karuna Sagar contends that a substantial population of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas has entered Telangana illegally. Furthermore, the petition asserts that these individuals have fraudulently obtained crucial Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and voter identity cards.
Exploiting these fraudulent documents, the petitioner alleges, the illegal immigrants are wrongfully availing themselves of various welfare schemes and benefits provided by the state government, thereby misusing public resources intended for legitimate citizens.
Specific Claims of Inaction and Security Threats
The petition provides specific, localized claims to bolster its case. It alleges that in the Balapur area alone, over 7,000 illegal immigrants are residing across 26 distinct settlements. Despite multiple formal representations submitted to the authorities, the petitioner claims the police have failed to take any substantive action to address this situation.
Senior counsel L Ravi Chander, representing the petitioner, brought an additional incident to the court's attention. He referenced a recent application seeking permission to hold a 'Dharma Raksha Sabha' (a religious protection assembly) in Balapur, which was denied by the state's Home Department. The department's stated reason for denial was the potential for law and order disturbances, citing the significant presence of Rohingyas in the locality as a contributing factor.
"Having officially acknowledged the presence of these illegal immigrants through such administrative decisions," argued Chander, "the state government ought to have initiated suo motu (on its own motion) action for their identification and deportation." He emphasized that the petitioner's repeated representations had yielded no official response or action.
Core Legal Argument: A Threat to Security and Order
The counsel's final submission framed the issue as one of paramount public interest. He urged the High Court to issue necessary directions to the state government, arguing that the continued presence of illegal immigrants constitutes a severe and direct threat to multiple pillars of governance:
- Internal Security: Compromising the nation's sovereign borders and demographic integrity.
- Public Order: Creating potential flashpoints for social and communal tension.
- Effective Law Enforcement: Overburdening systems and enabling document fraud.
Concluding the hearing, Justice Venugopal formally sought the Union government's official position on the entire matter. By directing its inclusion as a party and adjourning the proceedings, the court has set the stage for a coordinated response from both central and state authorities on this sensitive issue of immigration, documentation fraud, and national security.
