Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 8766 Gua
Judgement Date : 21 November, 2025
Page No.# 1/15
GAHC010173062016
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THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : WP(C)/4997/2016
MUST. SOBITA BEGUM
D/O. LT. ABDUL SUKKUR @ SUKUR ALI, R/O. DOBOKA TOWN WARD NO.9,
MOUZA JOMUNAMUKH, P.O. DOBOKA, P.S. DOBOKA, DIST. NAGAON,
ASSAM.
VERSUS
THE UNION OF INDIA and 9 ORS
REP. BY THE SECY. MINSTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, GOVT. OF INDIA, NEW
DELHI-1.
2:THE STATE OF ASSAM
REP. BY THE CHIEF SECY. TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM
DISPUR
GHY.-06.
3:THE COMMISSIONER and SECY.
TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM
HOME DEPTT.
DISPUR
GHY.-06.
4:THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
ASSAM
ULUBARI
GHY.-07.
5:THE DY. COMMISSIONER
NAGAON
ASSAM
Page No.# 2/15
PIN-782001.
6:THE DY. COMMISSIONER
HOJAI
ASSAM
PIN-782435.
7:THE SUPDT. OF POLICE B
NAGAON
ASSAM
PIN-782001.
8:THE SUPDT. OF POLICE B
HOJAI
ASSAM
PIN-782435.
9:THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE
KOBOKA POLICE STATION
DIST. HOJAI
ASSAM
PIN-782435.
10:THE STATE CO-ORDINATOR
NRC
ASSA
Advocate for the Petitioner : MD. I H KHAN, MR. A WAHAB,MR. M U MONDAL,MR. S
CHOUDHURY,MS. N NASRIN
Advocate for the Respondent : GA, ASSAM (R-2 to R9), ASSTT. S.G.I.(R-1)
BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KALYAN RAI SURANA HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SUSMITA PHUKAN KHAUND
Date : 21-11-2025 Page No.# 3/15
Date on which judgment is reserved : 23.10.2025
Date of pronouncement of judgment :
Whether the pronouncement is of the operative part of the judgment? : No
Whether the full judgment has been Pronounced : Yes
JUDGMENT AND ORDER (CAV) (K.R. Surana, J) Heard Mr. M.U. Mondal, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. U.K. Goswami, learned CGC appearing for respondent no.1; Mr. H.K. Hazarika, learned Government Advocate for respondent nos. 2, 5 and 6; Mr. J. Payeng, learned standing counsel for FT, Border matters and NRC, respondent nos. 3, 4 and 7 to 10.
2) By filing this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner, namely, Must. Sobita Begum, has challenged the opinion dated 20.06.2016, passed by the learned Member, Foreigners Tribunal, Nagaon
No.10th, Doboka, in F.T. (D) Case No. 49/2015, arising out of S.P.'s F.T. Case No. 1065/2008, by which she was declared to be a foreigner of post 25.03.1971 stream under section 2(1)(a) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 who has illegally entered into India (Assam) after 25.03.1971 without any valid document.
3) The petitioner has projected in her written statement that her name is entered in the voter list of 2014 of 90 No. Jamunamukh LAC as Sobi Begum. The name of her grandfather is entered in the voter list of 1966 of 92 Page No.# 4/15
No. Jamunamukh LAC as Intaz Ali Kabiraj. The name of her father is entered in the voter list of 1966 and 1970 of 92 No. Jamunamukh LAC as Sukur, son of Intaz. She had enclosed a copy of the voter list of 1966, 1970, 2014 and birth certificate along with her written statement.
4) In support of her defence, the petitioner had examined herself as DW-1, wherein she had reiterated her statements made in the written statement and she had also claimed that the case has been filed against her without any investigation. Though no documents were exhibited by the petitioner in her examination-in-chief, but during her cross-examination, she had exhibited the following documents, viz., certified copy of voter list of 1966 (Ext.1); certified copy of voter list of 1970 (Ext.2); Gaonburah's certificate (Ext.3); certified copy of voter list of 2014 (Ext.4); birth certificate (Ext.5); NRC Legacy Data, 1971 (Ext.6); NRC legacy data, 1971 (Ext.7).
5) In her cross-examination on 11.01.2016, the petitioner had stated that her age was 24 years, and she was residing in Ward No. 9 of Doboka Town. Her mother's name is Musstt. Mina Begum; her grandfather's name is Late Intaz Ali Kabiraj; her grandmother's name is Sakirun Begum and she did not know when she died and how old she was. She had stated that her grandfather was a resident of village- Pub Jugijan and had no land in the village.
Her father resided at Doboka Puran Bazar and she did not know when her father came to Doboka Puran Bazar. Her father had two brothers, her father was eldest and her uncle's name is Mokbul Ali and she does not know about him. She does not know if her father died in the year 2003 at the age of 60 years. He mother is aged about 50 years. She has an elder brother and two sisters. Her elder sister Babita Khatun married 15 years ago and Kobita Khatun married 12 years ago and they are aged about 30 years and 28 years and her elder brother Page No.# 5/15
is aged 26 years. She had stated that in the voter list of 1966, the name of her grandfather and name of grandmother appear as Sukurun not as Shakirun Begum. In respect of voter list of 1970 (Ext.2), she had stated that the name of her grandfather is at serial no. 19 and her grandmother's name appeared at serial no. 21 and she does not know whose name appeared in serial no. 20. Her grandmother's name appears as Sukur and not Sukurun or Shakirun Begum and there her grandfather's age is 72 and grandmother's age is 25. Ext.3, residential certificate was issued by Gaonburah of Village- Niz Doboka. The name of her mother and other family members appear in Ext.4, the voter list of 2014. Ext.5 is her birth certificate. In Ext.6, NRC voter detail of 1971, age of her grandfather is 72 years and in Ext.7, NRC voter detail of 1971, age of her grandmother is 25 years. She had stated that no enquiry was conducted by police and therefore, she was not a foreigner. No other witness was examined by her.
6) On appreciating the evidence of the petitioner, Ext.1 was discarded due to erroneous description of the name of petitioner's grandmother as Sukurun, instead of Shakirun Begum. Moreover, as the petitioner had stated in her cross-examination that her father had died in 2003 at the age of 60 years, the Tribunal had expressed that her father was born in the year 1943 and therefore, why his name did not appear in the voter list of 1966 when he would have been 23 years. The learned Tribunal had found that in Ext.1, the age of grandfather is 48 years, the age of her grandmother is 48 years and it was questioned why the voter list (Ext.1) name at serial no. 43 was missing. The learned Tribunal, compared the age of the petitioner's grandparents in Ext.1 and had also taken note of the fact that in the voter list of 1970 (Ext.2), while the age of her grandfather was 72 years, the age of her grandmother Sukurun was 25 years, which was not explained or clarified. Accordingly, it was held that Page No.# 6/15
serious doubt was cast on truthfulness of Ext.1 and Ext.2, rendering it to be untrustworthy and unreliable.
7) The learned Tribunal had discarded Ext.3 as the author had not stated that the petitioner was born in said village and/or for how long she was residing there. Ext.4 was disbelieved because the petitioner did not mention in her evidence why her name and her parents' name did not appear in any voter list for 44 years between 1970 and 2014 and moreover, the voter list of 2014 was of one year prior to the case, was held to be not enough to establish linkage with documents prior to cut-off date of 25.03.1971. The birth certificate (Ext.5) with date of birth was made on 24.07.2009, showing date of birth of the petitioner on 12.08.1991, was discarded as the document was made after inquiry in the reference case was made in the year 2009 to fill-up the lacuna. Ext.6 and Ext.7, the NRC voter detail was discarded as it was not a primary or a secondary evidence.
8) It was further held that Ext.3 and Ext.5 were not affirmed in accordance with law and reference was made to the decision of the Supreme Court of India in the case of Bhanwaroo Khan v. Union of India & Ors., (2002) 4 SCC 346, wherein it has been held that long stay in Country and enrolment in voters lists do not confer citizenship. Accordingly, the opinion was rendered in the affirmative in support of the reference.
9) The learned counsel for the petitioner had strongly submitted that the public documents were discarded, which was illegal and contrary to the provisions of Sections 74 and 79 of the Evidence Act, 1872. It was submitted that apart from documents which were filed with her evidence, the petitioner, by filing additional affidavits on 22.05.2019, 07.11.2019 and 30.08.2023, had brought additional documents on record for consideration of the Court and Page No.# 7/15
accordingly, it was prayed that the matter be remanded for fresh consideration by giving further opportunity to tender additional evidence. In support of his submissions, the learned counsel for the petitioner has cited the following cases, viz., Abdul Kuddus v. Union of India, 2019 5 Supreme 666, Rofiqul Hoque v. The Union of India & Ors. (2025) 0 Supreme (SC) 870, In Re: Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, Supreme (SC) 2024 (0) 942 , Md. Rahim Ali @ Abdur Rahim v. The State of Assam & Ors., 2024 0 Supreme (SC) 575 .
10) Per contra, the learned Standing counsel for the FT and Border matters has opposed the challenge and has submitted in support of the opinion impugned in this writ petition.
11) Perused the Tribunal's records and considered the submissions and cases cited at the Bar.
12) On examining the Tribunal's records, it is seen that in the written statement, the petitioner has not disclosed the names of her mother and grandmother, names of her siblings and siblings of her father or she is married or not and whether she had children. The petitioner has even not pleaded whether her grandparents and parents were alive or not. Moreover, she has not even stated about the date of her birth. The petitioner, as DW-1 was cross- examined on 11.01.2016, when she had disclosed about the name of her uncle and own siblings. Moreover, it is seen that the evidence-on-affidavit filed by the petitioner has not been sworn on oath, but is only supported by verification. Though the sign and seal of Notary Public are affixed on both the pages of the evidence-on-affidavit, but it does not contain any endorsement that it was sworn before him by the deponent. Thus, it is seen that though the evidence- on-affidavit is no affidavit at all, but yet the learned Tribunal had entertained it. In her cross-examination on 11.01.2016, the petitioner, as DW-1 had stated that Page No.# 8/15
her two sisters and brother are aged about 30 years, 28 years and 26 years respectively. If that be so, then they were born sometime in the year 1986, 1988 and 1990 respectively, but their names do not appear in any voter list with her parents after they had become entitled to vote.
13) In the case of Rashminara Begum v. Union of India, 2017 (4) GLT 346 and Saru Sheikh v. Union of India, (2017) 4 GLR 295 , which deals with the decision of Foreigners Tribunals, the Division Bench of this Court had held to the effect that material facts pleaded would have to be proved by adducing cogent and admissible evidence. Moreover, in the case of Ayesha Khatun v. Union of India, (2017) 3 GLR 820, and Jehirul Islam v. Union of India, (2017) 5 GLR 670, which also deals with the decision of Foreigners Tribunals, the Division Bench of this Court had held to the effect that failure to disclose material facts would lead to adverse presumption.
14) Though the petitioner had exhibited 8 (eight) documents, but the contents of those documents were not proved, because in her written statement and her evidence-on-affidavit, the petitioner has not disclosed about the persons whose names appear therein, except for stating that the voter list of 1966 contains the name of her grandfather and voter list of 1966 and 1970 contains the name of her father and that her name appeared in the voter list of 2014.
15) The learned Tribunal had held the Ext.1 and Ext.2 to be untrustworthy. In this regard, the petitioner has not explained why the certified copy of voter list of 1966 (Ext.1) selectively contains the names of persons appearing at serial no. 42 and 44 only and why the certified copy of voter list of 1970 (Ext.2) selectively contains the names of persons appearing at serial no. 19 and 21 only. This Court, by an order dated 23.06.2023, took notice of certain Page No.# 9/15
discrepancies in respect of Ext.1 and Ext.2, and passed an order, directing the Superintendent of Police (Border), Nagaon to make and enquiry and to submit a report. The said order is quoted below:-
"The Superintendant of Police (B) Nagaon to make a thorough enquiry and submit a report before the Court as to when Sukurun wife of Intaz whose name appears in the 1966 voters of village Pub Jugijan died in a situation where it is claimed that she had died between 1966 and 1970. As a result, the 1970 voters list contains the name of Sukur, who is claimed to be the son of Intaz.
The verification be made specifically whether Sukurun of the 1966 voters list and Sukur of the 1970 voters list are mother and son or in fact they are the same person i.e. Sukurun herself.
The Superintendent of Police (B) Nagaon to also verify whether the name of Sukur did appear in any voters list prior to 1970 along with Sukurun.
A copy of this order be furnished to Ms. A Verma, learned counsel for the Home Department, Government of Assam for doing the needful.
List on 02.08.2023.
The report be submitted by the next returnable date."
16) The Enquiry and Report dated 01.08.2023, that has been submitted by the Superintendent of Police (Border), Nagaon, is accompanied with the Enquiry Report dated 28.07.2023, by the S.I.(Border), I/c., Border Branch, Doboka. The said report has been accepted by the Court by order dated 02.08.2023. The contents of the Enquiry Report dated 28.07.2023 and Report of the Superintendent of Police (Border), Hojai, are reproduced herein below:-
(I) "To
The Superintendent of Police (B)
Sankardev Nagar, Hojai
Dated: Sankardev Nagar on 28 July 2023
Page No.# 10/15
Sub: Submission of Inquiry report.
Ref: Guwahati High Court order WP(C)/4997/2016.
Sir,
With reference to the subject cited above, I have enquired into the matter and submit the inquiry report in respect of Musstt Sobita Begum D/o Lt Abdul Sukkur @ Sukur All Vill Doboka Town Ward No 09 Mouza Jamunarmukh PO & PS Doboka as to whether Sukurun of the 1966 voter list and Sukur of the 1970 voter list are mother and son or in fact they are the same person i.e. Sukurun herself.
I have visited the village Doboka Town Ward No 09 under Doboka PS where Musstt Sobita Begum D/o Lt Abdul Sukkur @ Sukur Ali presently residing on 27 July 2023 and communicated with her and recorded her statement in a separate sheet and collected following documents on being produced by Musstt Sobita Begum which are enclosed herewith Annexure 'A':-
(a) Govt, Gaonburah Certificate (Xerox copy).
(b) Certified voter list 2014, 1977, 1975, 1970, 1966(Xerox copy)
(c) Death Certificate issued by Secretary of Doboka Town Ward No 08 and Govt, Gaonburah Certificate (Xerox copy) As per the above cited documents Musstt Sobita Begum claimed that name of Sukurun mentioned in the voter list 1966 as Grand mother and also claimed Sukur mentioned in the voter list 1970 as her father. She told that her Grand parents and her father were previously residing at Pub Jugijan Mouza Jugijan PS Hojai.
During inquiry I have also visited the village Pub Jugijan Mouza Jugijan PS Hojai and inquired about her Grand parents and her father locally. I have. consulted with the local villagers about Sukurun and Sukur's and their relationship but no one of the village knows about such person namely Lt Intaj Ali Kabiraj@ Intaj Ali, Sukurun W/o Lt Intaj Ali Kabiraj@ Intaj Ali and his son Sukur residing in the village. However the villager informed that one person namely Intaj Ali Fakir@ Intaj Ali Kabiraj resided in the village but name of his wife's not known to them and as per their knowledge Intaj Ali Kabiraj@ Intaj Ali has only one son namely Abdul Rahim and he is permanently in the village Pub Jugijan Mouza Jugijan PS Hojai.
Thereafter I communicated with Abdul Rahim S/o Lt Intaj Ali Kabiraj@ Intaj Ali@ Intaj Ali Fakir recorded his statement in a separate sheet and collected following on being produced by Abdul Rahim Annexure 'B':-
a) Xerox copy of Voter ID Card.
b) Voter list 1966 &1970
c) Xerox copy of 07 Khiraj Patta
On received of documents submitted by Abdul Rahim S/o Lt Intaj Ali Kabiraj @Intaj Ali@ Intaj Ali Fakir Vill Pub Jugijan Mouza Jugijan PS Hojai, it is found that both of documents provided by the O.P. i.e. Musstt Sobita Begum and On received of Page No.# 11/15
documents submitted by Abdul Rahim S/o Lt Intaj All Abdul Rahim S/o Lt Intaj Ali Kabiraj@ Intaj Ali@ Intaj All Fakir Vill Pub Jugijan Mouza Jugijan PS Hojal are same, but Abdul Rahim claimed that both Mokbul is his mother and Sukur of his step mother because his father had two wives.
I have collected certified copy of voter list of 1966 and 1970 produced by the O.P. namely Musstt Sobita Begum D/o Lt Abdul Sukkur @ Sukur Ali it is found I have collected Certified copy of voter list of 1966 & 1970 produced by the that both documents were found manipulated in the name of Sukurun and her age, gender & relationship and it is also clearly mentioned in the voter list that Sukur and Mokbul were the wives of Intaj.
Thus in view of the above facts and circumstances the merit of the evidence on records It has come to notice that the O.P. Namely Mussstt Sobita Begum and her family members has no any connection with Sukurun and inta and also noticed that they had manipulated voter list of the year 1966 & 1970 hence sukurun and Sukur were the same person.
Submitted for favor of kind perusal."
(II) "GOVT. OF ASSAM OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, HOJAI, ASSAM Phone No. 03674284100 E-Mail ID- [email protected] Letter No. HJI/В/HC/2023/213 Hojai the 1st Aug, 2023.
To, Sri Gunjan Sarma Special Standing Counsel F.T and Border Matters Gauhati High Court, Guwahati Sub: Enquiry and Report.
Ref:- Memo No. Addl. DGP (B)/ Law Cell/Misc- Vol.IV/ WP(C)/ 4997/ 2016/2023/577/977 dated 27/07/2023.
Sir, In inviting reference to the subject cited above, I am submitting inquiry report in connection with WP(C) No. 4997/2016 in the matter of Sobita Begum, D/O Lt. Abdul Sukkur @ Sukur Ali -Vs- The Union of India & ors.
Page No.# 12/15
During inquiry the following facts have come to light:-
1. Sukur is the name of wife of Intaj Ali Kabiraj and her name appears in the 1966 & 1970 voter list aged 21 & 25 years respectively. Sukur did not die between 1966 & 1970 as proof of his casting vote in 1975 & 1977 is available. (enclosed voter list of 1966 & 1970 and voting record with respect to same of voter list 1975 & 1977).
2. The 1970 voter list does not contain any mention of any son of Sukur, rather the mentions of person named Sukur in 1966 voter list & 1970 voter list refer to the same person i.e. Sukur wife of Intaj Ali Kabiraj.
3. Name of Sukur appeared in 1966 voter list as wife of Intaj Ali Kabiraj.
It can be summarized as per records that there is only one person called Sukur, wife of Intaj Ali Kabiraj whose name find mention in voter list of 1966 & 1970. No official records as to the existence of son of Intaj Ali Kabiraj called Sukur could be found. Submitted for favor of kind perusal.
Enclo:
1. Enquiry report submitted by SI(B) Isfakul Haque.
2. Written statement of Sobita Begum.
3. Govt. Gaonburha certificate.
4. Voter list of 2014.
5. Voter list of 1975 & 1977.
6. Voter list of 1970 & 1966.
Yours sincerely, Superintendent of Police, (B) Hojai:: Assam.
Dated: 01/08/2023."
17) By her affidavit filed on 30.08.2023, the petitioner has referred to certificate of Gaonburah and Koboristan to project that her father had died on 02.10.2023. However, before the Foreigners Tribunal, the petitioner has not produced any voter list showing the presence of her projected father in Assam.
18) Be that as it may, in paragraph 7 of the said affidavit filed on Page No.# 13/15
30.08.2023, the petitioner has relied on (a) the Enquiry Report dated 28.07.2023 (Annexure-I) submitted by the Sub-Inspector (Border), In-Charge, Border Branch, Doboka, and (b) Report dated 01.08.2023, by the Superintendent of Police (Border), Nagaon (Annexure-J). It may be stated that those two documents i.e. Annexure-I and Annexure-J appended to the additional affidavit filed by the petitioner on 30.08.2023, are verified by the petitioner as follows - "11. ... and those made in paragraphs 2 to 9 being matters of record derived there from which I believe to be true to my information ...". Therefore, by way of the said additional affidavit, the petitioner has categorically admitted the correctness of the Enquiry Report dated 01.08.2023 (Annexure-I), extracted herein above and the Report dated 01.08.2023, by the Superintendent of Police (Border), Nagaon (Annexure-J).
19) Thus, on admitting the contents of the said two documents, the finding to the effect that the petitioner, Sobita Begum and her family members have no connection with Sukurun and Intaj and that the petitioner had manipulated the voter list of the year 1966 and 1970 and Sukurun and Sukur were the same person.
20) Therefore, the present writ petition to assail the impugned
opinion dated 20.06.2016, passed by the learned Foreigners Tribunal No. 10 th, Doboka, Nagaon is held to be based on false projection, which has been exposed by the two reports dated 28.07.2023 and 01.08.2023, referred hereinbefore, the contents of which has been admitted by the petitioner in her additional affidavit.
21) Therefore, in light of discussions above, this Court does not find that the impugned opinion rendered by the learned Tribunal is vitiated by any Page No.# 14/15
jurisdictional error or that there was any failure in giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. Therefore, as the Court is exercising supervisory jurisdiction and not appellate jurisdiction, no case is made out for substituting the opinion rendered by the learned Tribunal with the view of the Court. This is not a case where the learned Tribunal had refused to admit admissible evidence or that its finding is de hors the evidence on record.
22) Therefore, under the unique facts of this case, the cases of Abdul Kuddus (supra), In Re: Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (supra), and Md. Rahim Ali @ Abdur Rahim (supra) , cited by the learned counsel for the petitioner would have no application in this case. Therefore, no purpose would be served to burden this order with discussion on the same.
23) Hence, this writ petition fails and the same is devoid of any merit and the same is dismissed, leaving the parties to bear their own cost.
24) The Registry shall return back the records along with a copy of this order, to enable the said learned Tribunal to make it a part of the records of the learned Tribunal for future reference.
25) It may be mentioned that in the order dated 07.11.2019, this Court had recorded that the learned counsel for the petitioner had made a statement that the name of the petitioner had been entered in the NRC bearing ARN No. 101830502039079001573 of NSK: Doboka 9 Village/Ward Name:
Doboka (TC), Ward No. 0009 (567) of District Hojai and this Court had directed the learned Standing Counsel for the State Coordinator, NRC to obtain necessary instructions as to how the name of Sobita Begum could have entered in the Final NRC despite having been declared as a foreigner of post 1971 stream vide
opinion dated 20.06.2016, passed by the learned Foreigners Tribunal No. 10 th, Page No.# 15/15
Doboka, Nagaon. Pursuant to the orders passed by the Court, the respondent no.10 had filed an affidavit on 21.12.2023, inter alia, stating that the "declared foreigner (DF)" status was shared by the Additional Director General of Police (Border), Assam with the NRC authority, Hojai, and accordingly, the name of the petitioner was excluded from the compete Draft NRC published on 30.07.2018, being a 'DF' (declared foreigner).
26) Before parting with the records, it may be mentioned that for making a false statement before the Court, this Court by order dated 25.08.2023, had directed the petitioner to show cause why contempt proceeding or any other proceeding shall not be initiated against her. The order, having been passed in the presence of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner is deemed to be aware of the said order.
27) Accordingly, the Registry is directed to register a separate Contempt Petition (Suo Motu), to deal with the said issue separately. The copy of orders dated 23.06.2023, 02.08.2023 and 25.08.2023, passed by this Court; photocopy of the Additional Affidavit filed by the petitioner on 30.08.2023 in connection with this writ petition; and a copy of this order shall be kept in the said file.
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