Centre to SC: No deletion of voters on religious, linguistic basis

Amid continuing violence in Assam, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that it would not be possible to delete names of 40 lakh doubtful voters from the state on the basis of their religious or linguistic profile as it would be unconstitutional.

The Centre rejected the allegation of NGO Assam Public Works that over 40 lakh illegal migrants from Bangladesh had got their names entered into the electoral rolls and they should forthwith be deported.

In an affidavit placed before a bench of justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi on Thursday, the Centre, however, assured the court that it was committed to weed out illegal migrants from the state.

The apex court, while taking on record the affidavit, posted the matter for further hearing to November 6.

"That the proposed modality suggested by the petitioner NGO to identify and delete alleged doubtful voters; from the voter list 2006 based on religious and linguistic profiling is prima facie illegal, arbitrary and violation of secular and democratic fabric of lndia.

"That the prayer made by the petitioner cannot be allowed as it violates the Constitution mandate," the affidavit filed by the Union Home Ministry said.

The Centre said as a matter of policy it does not support any kind of illegal migration either into its territory or illegal immigration of its citizens to foreign territories.

"Curbing illegal migration into the country is a priority since it has serious security, economic and societal ramifications," it said.

The government said it has been issuing instructions from time to time to all states and Union territories on the need to detect and deport Bangladeshi nationals found to be staying in India.