The union home ministry on Tuesday clarified that Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 is applicable to the whole country and is not specific to any state.
However, a May 2019 amendment in the order only lays down the modalities for the foreigners’ tribunals to decide on appeals made by persons not satisfied with the outcome of claims and objections filed against the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“As NRC work is going on only in Assam, therefore, the amendment order, issued on May 30, 2019 is applicable only to Assam as on date for all practical purposes. This amendment order also provides for reference by District Magistrate to the tribunal for its opinion as to whether the Appellant is a “foreigner” or not within the meaning of the Foreigners Act, 1946,” a home ministry official said.
The official also said, “Since the foreigners’ tribunals under this order have been established only in Assam and in no other state of the country, this amendment in effect is going to be relevant only to Assam at present.”
The Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 was issued by the Central government under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
It is applicable to the whole country.
Major amendments in the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 were undertaken in 2013. The last amendment was issued in May, 2019.