SABITRI DEY Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Delay condoned in those matters in which delay, if any, is there. Leave granted in SLP(C) No. 9745 of 2017, SLP(C) Nos. 33488-33489 of 2017, Diary No. 27282 of 2017, SLP(Crl.) No. 10767 of 2018, Diary No. 37766 of 2017, SLP(C) No. 23494 of 2017, Diary No. 15744 of 2023 and SLP(C) No. 24686 of 2016.

(2.) The present batch of appeals arises out of proceedings before the Foreigners Tribunals in the State of Assam and, in some matters, before the erstwhile Illegal Migrants (Determination) Tribunals. In all these matters, the appellants have been declared to be foreigners and the said opinions have been affirmed by the High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh at Guwahati [hereinafter referred to as "the High Court"].

(3.) The common grievance of the appellants is that the opinions against them were rendered in proceedings which were either ex parte or had become effectively ex parte, and that the statutory determination of their status was made without a full and meaningful opportunity to contest the reference. Since the question involved is common, these matters have been heard together and are being decided by this common judgment.