Supreme Court to hear on March 4 matter related to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants

New Delhi: A day after reserving its verdict in connection with the detention of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country, the Supreme Court on Friday decided to hear the case again on March 4 on a request by the Union government to allow it to file an additional affidavit on the basis of inputs from the Ministry of External Affairs.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had on Thursday wrapped its hearing in a 2013 plea filed by Maja Daruwala and another.

On Friday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Union government mentioned that some inputs from the MEA were to be placed before the court.

"This might have some wider ramifications, the court may consider deferring the finality and permit us to file an additional affidavit after taking inputs from the other Ministry," he said.

Notably, the previous affidavit filed by the Union government in the matter was based on inputs from Ministry of Home Affairs.

In view of the sensitivity of the case, the court permitted the Union to file an additional affidavit.

"We are conscious of the fact that we concluded the hearing of this matter and have reserved the judgment. However, having regard to the sensitive nature of the issue, we direct the Registry to renotify this matter on March 4," the bench said.

The Supreme Court had on Thursday questioned the Union government over a need to ascertain nationality of the illegal immigrants from the countries they are to be deported to, when they are specifically charged for having illegally entered India while being a national of that country.

The court had also voiced its concern over the pathetic condition over illegal immigrants being detained even after serving their sentence.

"What is the idea in asking the neighboring country to tell about nationality and verification," the bench asked.

The court also questioned the West Bengal government for not having adequate number of correctional homes.

The petitioners, claiming to be public spirited citizen associated with 'Common Health Human Rights Initiative' (NGO) raised concerns over all those illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who are put to trial for the offence punishable under the Foreigners Act after undergoing sentence instead of being deported to their own country are being detained in the correctional homes in West Bengal.