Tuesday, July 12 2005 14:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (July 12, 2005) struck down the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination through Tribunal) Act operating in Assam to identify Bangladeshi migrants.

The apex Court directed that all Tribunals functioning under the IMDT, which has been declared unconstitutional, would seize functioning with immediate effect.

The Court, allowing the petition filed by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Sarbanand Sonawal, said all pending matters before the IMDT Tribunal would stand transferred to tribunals under the Foreigners Act.

Taking note of the huge influx of Bangladesh migrants into Assam, the Court directed the state government to constitute sufficient number of tribunals under the Foreigners Act to deal with the situation effectively.

The previous AGP Government had initiated the process for repeal of the IMDT Act, 1983 but Tarun Gogoi Government overturned the policy decision and supported its continuance.

The previous NDA Government had also supported repeal of the Act.