Page No.# 1/4 GAHC010120632025 2025:GAU-AS:7593 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/3178/2025 ABDUL MOTLEB SON OF JAFOR ALI, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE MANASHPARA RESERVE , LAKHIPUR, GOALPARA, ASSAM VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA AND ORS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, GOVT. OF INDIA, NEW DELHI-1 2:THE STATE OF ASSAM REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM HOME DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI-6 3:THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA NEW DEIHI.-1. 4:THE STATE COORDINATOR OF NRC ASSAM DISPUR GUWAHATI-6. 5:THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER GOALPARA DISTRICT- GOALPARA Page No.# 2/4 ASSAM. PIN-783121. 6:THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE GOALPARA DISTRICT- GOAIPARA ASSAM. PIN-783121. 7:THE OFFICER IN CHARGE LAKHIPUR POLICE STATION DISTRICTGOALPARA ASSAM. PIN- 783129 Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. M I HUSSAIN, SK ABDULLAH,MR. N ISLAM,R KHA Advocate for the Respondent : DY.S.G.I., SC, NRC,SC, F.T,SC, ECI,GA, ASSAM BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MICHAEL ZOTHANKHUMA ORDER Date : 11-06-2025 Heard Ms. P Ahmed, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. S Doley, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Mr. J Payeng, learned counsel for the respondent Nos. 2, 4 & 6; Mr. H Kuli, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Mr. AI Ali, learned counsel for the respondent No. 3 as well as Ms. U Das, learned counsel for the respondent Nos. 5 & 7. 2. The case of the petitioner is that in the voters list of 1997, the name of the petitioner was marked with the letter “D” and thereupon the petitioner has approached the concerned respondent authorities for removal of the tag “D” in his name from the voters list. Page No.# 3/4 3. As the concerned respondent authorities had failed to do so, the petitioner is before this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for an appropriate direction that the letter “D” tagged with the name of the petitioner in the voters list be removed. 4. Whether a person is a D voter or not is a matter of factual determination and the appropriate forum to do the same is the concerned Foreigners Tribunal. This Court in exercise of its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India would not have the competence to decide such a question which depends on the evidence that may be produced. 5. In the circumstances, this Court therefore directs the respondent No.6, i.e., the Superintendent of Police (Border), Goalpara to verify as to whether the petitioner has already been referred to the concerned Foreigners Tribunal and if upon verification it is found that the petitioner has not been referred to the concerned Foreigners Tribunal, this Court further directs the said respondent No.6 to refer the case of the petitioner as regards the mark “D” in the voters list in respect to 124 No. Manashpara Reserve LAC Part No.39 to a competent Foreigners Tribunal, Goalpara district for an appropriate adjudication as regards the status of the petitioner as “D” voter in the concerned voters list. 6. Reference be made within a period of 2 (two) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Upon such reference being made, the petitioner may participate in such proceedings and establish his case. 7. If the case of the petitioner as per the records had already been referred to the relevant Foreigners Tribunal, there would be no requirement to make any Page No.# 4/4 further reference and the detailed information of the earlier reference be communicated to the petitioner. 8. With the above directions and observations, the instant writ petition stands disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant