Has the Assam Cabinet Approved SOP for Expulsion of Illegal Immigrants?

Guwahati, Sep 9 (NationPress) The Assam Cabinet has taken a historic step by approving a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950. This new protocol will empower district authorities to effectively identify and expel illegal migrants from the state, addressing rising concerns regarding rampant immigration.

In a press conference, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “The SOP gives authority to District Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to act based on reliable information about suspected illegal immigrants. Under this framework, anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant will need to provide proof of Indian citizenship within 10 days. If the evidence is found lacking, the DC is obligated to issue a formal order declaring the person an illegal immigrant, along with the reasons and findings.”

“Following this identification, the DC will issue an expulsion order as per Section 2(a) of the 1950 Act, allowing the individual 24 hours to exit Assam through a designated route. For those already labeled as foreigners by the Foreigners’ Tribunals (DFNs), the DC will directly issue expulsion orders, as these individuals have already utilized all available legal avenues,” he elaborated.

The SOP also mandates the collection of biometric and demographic information of identified migrants on the Foreigners Identification Portal prior to their expulsion. Should an individual refuse to comply, the DC, in collaboration with the SSP, has the authority to detain the person in a holding center or hand them over to border forces for deportation. Migrants discovered near the zero line or within 12 hours of entering Assam will be swiftly “pushed back” without further procedures.

In conjunction with the SOP, the Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved several crucial initiatives. It granted an ex post facto approval for releasing ₹5 crore from the Chief Minister’s Public Emergency Fund of Assam to aid the ‘Chief Minister Relief Fund Himachal Pradesh’ for relief operations in the hill state affected by severe monsoon rains.

Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned corrections to pay discrepancies impacting 20 staff members, including physiotherapists, speech therapists, accountants, and cashiers serving in Jorhat Medical College and Hospital as well as model hospitals within the state’s health department.

Moreover, an amendment to the Assam Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2020 was endorsed to align it with the Centre’s Model Act of 2017, ensuring improved market access for small and marginal farmers and facilitating transparent and competitive bidding for enhanced price realization.