Sunday, July 24 2005 14:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected the Centre's plea seeking modification of a Delhi High Court order directing deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the capital as per the action plan 2002.

The Centre had challenged the High Court order dismissing its application for modification of the action plan by which it had to identify 100 illegal Bangladeshi everyday in the capital.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Justice P K Balasubramanyan declined to entertain the appeal against the High Court order, which had said that, the Centre's proposal to modify the action plan was a tactic to delay the whole process of deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

The revised action plan for deportation of illegal migrants prepared after consultation with the Bangladesh Government and was placed before the High court in a sealed cover.

However, the apex court gave a breather to the Centre saying that it could approach the High Court with a modified action plan keeping in mind its recent judgement declaring the 1983 Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act and Rules framed in 1984 as "ultra vires" of the Constitution.

"The Centre is allowed liberty of filing suitable action plan with suitable modification, if any, for consideration of the High Court in view of the judgement of this court (on IMDT)," the Bench said.

The action plan was formulated on the direction of the High Court which has been monitoring the steps taken by various authorities since 2001 on the issue of identification and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants.