SC reserves verdict on pleas against section 6A of Citizenship Act

A Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging Section 6A of the Citizenship Act.

During the resumed hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta rebutted the submission of senior advocate Kapil Sibal that Assam was not a part of Myanmar. "It seems he has read a wrong book of history. Assam was never a part of Myanmar. Myanmar has now maximum immigration," Mehta submitted.

The Solicitor General also highlighted that the Centre's progress in fencing the border in West Bengal was hindered due to the state's non-cooperation. He argued that the West Bengal government "follows a far slower, more complex direct land purchase policy. Even for national security purposes like border fencing, there is non-cooperation by the state government".


He added that if the West Bengal government cooperates in acquiring land and hands over the land for fencing, the central government will complete the border fencing.

In response to a query put by the Supreme Court last week on the number of illegal migrants, the central government informed the apex court that it is not possible to collect data of illegal migrants living in various parts of the country as entry of foreign nationals is clandestine and surreptitious.