MAMATA BHOWMIK Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. S.C. Biswas, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. A.I. Ali, learned counsel for the Election Commission of India, Mr. A. Kalita, learned counsel for the State of Assam appearing for the Foreigners' Tribunal and Border Areas, Ms. A. Verma, learned standing counsel for the authorities under the NRC as well as Ms. G. Sarma, learned counsel for the authorities under the Union of India.

(2.) On being referred by the Superintendent of Police, (Border) Sonitpur, Case No. F.T. (IMDT) 92/2016 was registered in the Foreigners Tribunal 7th, Tezpur, Balipara. In the proceeding amongst others, the petitioner exhibited the voter list of 1966 of village Lokhopara, Mouza-Missamari, Sub-division-Tezpur (Sadar) containing the name of Bijendra Sarkar Son of Jamini aged 48 years in order to establish that Bijendra Sarkar is the father of the petitioner. The Exhibit-4 voter list of 1966 is a certified copy of the electoral roll of 1966 and it contains the signature of the approving authority with the following:-

(3.) Apart from the endorsement, the certified copy also contains a further note that the certificate is digitally signed and therefore, needs no physical signature and the authenticity of the certificate can be verified from http://www/assam.gov.in/certificate-verification and that the certificate is legally valid under the Information Technology Act, 2000.