Jharkhand High Court Reprimands Soren Government For Filing Wrong Affidavit About Illegal Migration

On 18 July 2024, Jharkhand High Court (HC) criticised the state’s Hemant Soren government for failing to submit proper affidavits in response to a public interest litigation (PIL). 

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad had earlier instructed the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Santhal Pargana districts — Deoghar, Pakur, Dumka, Sahibganj, Godda and Jamtara, to present detailed reports on the situation of illegal immigration in their respective districts. 

Additionally, the court ordered the Superintendents of Police (SPs) from the six Santhal Pargana districts to assist the DCs by providing relevant feedback for the reports. The state’s chief secretary was also directed to coordinate with the DCs to compile these reports comprehensively. 

During the hearing, the court was informed that the affidavits were submitted by subordinate officers instead of the DCs themselves. The bench expressed its dissatisfaction with this approach, refusing to accept the affidavits and ordering them to be resubmitted by the DCs. 

The Jharkhand HC said that considering the seriousness of the matter, actions of the DCs seemed to be an attempt to mislead the court. 

The PIL, filed by Daniel Danish, asserts that the illegal immigration from Bangladesh is adversely affecting the demography of the Santhal Pargana districts. Danish details that illegal immigrants are marrying tribals to secure land, thereby altering the region’s demographic balance. 

Previously, on 9 April 2024, the HC questioned the Union government regarding its ability to enforce the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) against undocumented immigrants of Bangladeshi descent living in the Santhal Pargana division.

On 3 July, the court had directed the state government to take immediate measures to repatriate illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Despite clear evidence of illegal migrants affecting tribals most, the Soren government has refused to take any concrete measures to stop it. The fact that the vast majority of these illegal immigrants are Muslims is probably what stops him from taking action.

Apart from Soren’s own politics tilting towards the established notion of secularism, his alliance with Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal is another reason. Both parties lay claim on Muslim votes and ahead of elections, the Soren government laying out truth in court will have a significant negative impact on the coalition.

Soren seems to be in the mood to avoid it till elections, at least.