Ahead Of Election, Jharkhand High Court Orders Soren Government To Identify Illegal Bangladeshis

The Jharkhand High Court (JHC) has directed the Hemant Soren government to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the Santhal Parganas region.

The order was issued by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai.

The directive came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Danyaal Danish. The PIL highlights the alleged influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in six districts namely Deoghar, Dumka, Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda and Jamtara.

The petitioner argued that the demographic changes in these districts are alarming. He presented data showing that the tribal population in the Santhal Parganas region has drastically declined — from 44.67 per cent in 1951 to 28.11 per cent in 2011.

In contrast, the minority population has risen sharply from 9.44 per cent to 22.73 per cent during the same period. The petitioner attributed this shift largely to illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

JHC expressed deep concern over this issue, calling it a "dangerous proposition" that poses a serious threat to both state and national security. The bench emphasised that the state of Jharkhand was established to protect the rights of its tribal population.

It warned that the ongoing demographic changes could undermine this mission.

In its 8 August 2024 order, JHC criticised the local authorities for their "lackadaisical approach" in addressing illegal immigration. It noted that identity documents such as ration cards, voter IDs, and Aadhaar cards were being issued without proper verification, enabling illegal immigrants to access government benefits meant for locals.

It directed the state to utilise its Special Branch to identify and take action against illegal immigrants. It also ordered a comprehensive campaign to distinguish between original residents and illegal immigrants.

Given the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh, where political instability has led to widespread violence and displacement, the court emphasised on urgency of the situation.

Bench directed the involvement of national agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, the Border Security Force, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, and the Director General of the Unique Identification Authority of India, in the identification process.

These agencies have been asked to file their responses and assist in tackling the issue.

The demographic change in favour of illegal Bangladeshi migrants has been picked up as election issue by Bharatiya Janata Party. Court's orders and observations are set to embolden its position.