Wednesday, August 3 2005 19:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government will implement in 'letter and spirit' the Supreme Court order to scrap the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, Home Minister Shivraj Patil assured the Rajya Sabha today (August 3, 2005).

"I have no hesitation in saying that the Supreme Court directive will be implemented in letter and spirit. We will like to implement the Supreme Court judgement in full spirit," he said responding to supplementaries during Question Hour.

Patil said if there was any genuine difficulty faced by anyone, it would be looked into.

The Home Minister said the Government has decided to appoint a Group of Ministers (GoM) to study implications of the Apex Court order and hear all opinions on questions of detection and deportation of illegal migrants.

He said a notification has been issued that Tribunals and appellate Tribunals constituted under the Act shall cease to function with effect from July 12, 2005.

The Home Minister said under the Foreigners Act, the State Governments have been given the right to search for illegal immigrants.

Patil said it was clear that foreigners coming here for employment without the permission of the Government of India were illegal migrants.