Thursday, July 14 2005 14:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (July 14, 2005) decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GOM) to study the Supreme Court ruling on the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act (IMDT) and advise the Government on what has to be done.

"The GOM will hear the views of various parties and advise the Government for further action," Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday (July 12, 2005), struck down as unconstitutional, the controversial Illegal Migrants Act, which the Opposition had termed as a tool to delay identification and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

While allowing a writ petition filed by Asom Gana Parishad MP Sarbananda Sonowal, the apex court declared the 1983 Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act and Rules framed in 1984 as 'ultra vires' of the Constitution.

Patil on GOM

Patil said that the Apex Court ruling on the issue was being examined 'very carefully' by the Home Ministry and the Law Ministry for 'proper and further action.'

"This is a matter on which people have expressed their views differently," he said adding that the Government has decided to hear all shades of opinion before 'deciding finally as to how and what has to be done.'

Asked if the Government would file a petition seeking review of the Supreme Court verdict in the IMDT case, he said no decision has been taken on this.

"The Supreme Court verdict is binding on all of us and the GOM will hear the views of all concerned parties before advising the Government", he said.

On whether the CCPA discussed the outcome of the recent meeting of G-4 countries on the expansion of the United Nations Security Council and the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit to the US, Patil said he was not authorised to speak on these issues.