GUWAHATI, India, Feb. 25 -- Gauhati High Court issued the following order on Jan. 27:

1. Heard Mr. A.M. Ahmed, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. M.R. Adhikari, learned CGC; Ms. A. Verma, learned Standing Counsel for the FT matters and NRC; Mr. A.I. Ali, learned standing counsel for the ECI; and Mr. P. Sarmah, learned Junior Govt. Advocate for the State.

2. The petitioner Rafiqul Ali, who has filed W.P.(C) No.4234/2025, is aggrieved by the opinion dated 06.09.2024 passed in FT case No.113/2018 (P.E. No.143/2018), declaring the petitioner to be a foreigner who entered into India after 25.03.1971.

4. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner on receipt of notice entered appearance through his engaged counsel before the Foreigners Tribunal, Dibrugarh in connection with FT case No.113/2018 (P.E. No.143/2018) and filed written statement. Meanwhile, owing to the nationwide lockdown commencing from 24.03.2020, the learned engaged Counsel failed to take steps and vide an ex-parte order dated 30.04.2021, the petitioner was declared a foreigner.

5. The petitioner is at present lodged at the Matia transit camp at Goalpara .

6. It is submitted that the petitioner is a genuine Indian citizen, but the engaged counsel of the petitioner had failed to take steps after lockdown which was imposed on 24.03.2020. The petitioner belongs to the indigenous Assamese Muslim community. The petitioner has been picked up and forwarded to the detention center. The petitioner is son of Sabu Ali @ Chabu Ali. He belongs to indigenous Assamese Muslim Community and is a resident of Village -Bor Abhoipuria Tengakhat, PS-Tengakhat and district- Dibrugarh. The petitioner has earnestly prayed for an opportunity to contest the proceedings and place the documents required to prove his citizenship.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=A9S7c5LDIsB6RXaCf816xwccmKsZoIg4qvEo1M9MzQqZxe6LHrNR2HgfrvKYKKUo&caseno=WP(C)/4234/2025&cCode=1&cino=GAHC010157432025&state_code=6&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.