High Court reserves verdict on plea over Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand

The Jharkhand High Court has reserved its verdict on a petition concerning the declining tribal population and alleged Bangladeshi infiltration in the Santhal region.

In Short

• Jharkhand High Court heard plea on tribal population decline
• Kapil Sibal, representing state, claimed plea 'politically motivated'
• Central government asserted infiltration data based on census figures

The Jharkhand High Court concluded the hearing on a petition filed by Daniel Danish, which addressed concerns over the declining tribal population and demographic changes due to alleged Bangladeshi infiltration in the Santhal region.

Santals are the largest and one of the oldest tribes in India and are spread across Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state government, presented their arguments before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai. Following the submissions, the court reserved its decision, as confirmed by advocate Dheeraj Kumar.

Solicitor General Mehta informed the bench that a meeting is scheduled for September 30 between the state's Chief Secretary and the Secretary of the Union Home Ministry to discuss the formation of a fact-finding committee. The meeting will focus on identifying infiltrators.

On the other hand, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the petition is politically motivated by the BJP, stating that no data on infiltration had been provided and that a similar case is pending in the Supreme Court.

Mehta countered by saying that data based on census figures had been submitted. After hearing both sides, the court reserved its verdict.

During an earlier hearing on September 12, neither the central nor the state government had proposed suggestions for the committee's formation.

On September 17, the court noted that Deputy Commissioners from five districts denied any infiltration, while the DC of Sahibganj confirmed two cases.

The Central Government maintained that infiltration had occurred necessitating identification and action, while the state government stated that Bangladeshi infiltration into Jharkhand occurs through other states, necessitating coordination with the central government.