LAWS(CAL)-2016-4-104

BANGLAR MANABADHIKAR SURAKSHA MANCHA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

Decided On April 01, 2016
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha Appellant
V/S
UNION OF INDIA Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioners.

(2.) According to petitioners, they are residing in Cooch Behar since time immemorial, but they are of Bangladesh origin. They place reliance on a notification dated 12.10.2015 in pursuance of 119th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2013. According to them, District Magistrate, Cooch Behar is the authority to register their names as enlisting enclave dwellers for the purpose of issuing citizenship by the concerned authority, i.e. Union of India. According to them, their names are registered for issuance of voters ' election card. Therefore, they are before this Court seeking a direction contending that after notification dated 12.10.2015 no further steps are taken with regard to issuance of citizenship to the dwellers.

(3.) The process of considering a person for issuance of citizenship of a country is a laborious procedure and various steps have to be followed by different authorities before considering the application. We fail to understand how a person could be registered for the purpose of issuance of a voter card before he could become a citizen of this country.