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2025 DAILYLAW 19366 (GAU)

MAMUNI KHATUN v. THE UNION OF INDIA AND 5 ORS

WP(C)/5502/2025 · 2025-09-18

Devashis Baruah

Writ Petition (Civil)body2025

Judgment text

Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.

Page No.# 1/4 GAHC010209972025 2025:GAU-AS:13004 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/5502/2025 MAMUNI KHATUN W/O- HAFIZUR RAHMAN KHAN, D/O- MOFELUDDIN, VILL.- GUMAIJHAR, P.O. SIMLABARI, P.S. LAKHIPUR, DIST. GOALPARA, ASSAM VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA AND 5 ORS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, GOVT. OF INDIA, NEW DELHI-1. 2:THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY NIRVACHAN BHAWAN NEW DELHI-1. 3:THE STATE OF ASSAM REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM HOME DEPARTMENT DISPUR GHY-06. 4:THE STATE COORDINATOR OF NRC ASSAM BHANGAGARH GUWAHATI-05. 5:THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CUM DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER GOALPARA ASSAM PIN- 783101. 6:THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE (B) Page No.# 2/4 GOALPARA ASSAM PIN- 783101 For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. H.R. Khan, Advocate For the Respondent(s) : Mr. J. Payeng, Standing Counsel Ms. P. Barua, Standing Counsel BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH ORDER Date : 19.09.2025 Heard Mr. H.R. Khan, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner. I have also heard Ms. P. Barua, the learned Standing Counsel, Election Commission of India and Mr. J. Payeng, the learned Standing Counsel, NRC. 2. The case of the petitioner herein is that in the voters list of 2005, 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 her name from the voters list. 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. Page No.# 3/4 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 39 No. Jaleswar LAC 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 her case. 7. If the case of the petitioner as per the records had already Page No.# 4/4 been referred to the relevant Foreigners Tribunal there would be no requirement to make any 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