HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 9: The Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Lok Sewa Bhawan on Tuesday, approved several key decisions, with a particular focus on strengthening border management and tackling the growing challenge of illegal immigration, an official statement said.
Among the decisions, the Cabinet approved the framing of a Standard Operating Procedure under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, aimed at providing clear guidelines to District Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police on identifying and expelling illegal migrants.
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The move comes amid growing concerns over unabated illegal immigration from neighboring countries, which the government says threatens the cultural and demographic fabric of the state.
Under the new procedure, if the District Commissioner receives information from the police or any other source that a person is suspected to be an illegal immigrant, the individual will be required to produce valid proof of citizenship within ten days.
If the submitted evidence is found unsatisfactory, the District Commissioner will issue a written opinion, identifying the individual as an illegal immigrant based on facts and reasons.
The expulsion process will be swift and decisive.
The District Commissioner is empowered to pass an expulsion order under Section 2(a) of the Act, directing the migrant to leave Assam within 24 hours.
Those already declared foreigners by the Foreign Tribunals will not require further identification, and expulsion orders will be issued immediately.
Biometric and demographic details of identified individuals will be captured on the Foreigners Identification Portal to ensure tracking and enforcement.
If the individual fails to comply, the District Commissioner, with assistance from law enforcement, may detain the person in a Holding Centre or hand them over to the nearest border guarding force under Section 4 of the Act.
In cases where illegal migrants are detected near the zero line or within 12 hours of entry, they will be pushed back immediately without undergoing further procedures.
Chief minister Sarma underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the indigenous population and strengthening Assam’s security and administrative apparatus.
Officials present at the meeting noted that the SOP would act as a comprehensive framework to curb illegal migration, ensure effective border enforcement, and maintain law and order in the state.
In addition to addressing the illegal migration issue, the Cabinet approved ex post facto financial assistance of ₹5 crore from the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Public Emergency to the Chief Minister Relief Fund in Himachal Pradesh, aimed at providing relief from monsoon-related disasters.
The Cabinet also approved correction of pay anomalies affecting 20 employees, including physiotherapists and accountants at Jorhat Medical College and other hospitals, ensuring parity with direct entry scales.
Furthermore, to modernize the agricultural sector, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Assam Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2020.
The amendments align the state’s marketing policies with evolving trends, enhancing market access for small and marginal farmers and promoting transparent bidding for better price realisation.
The Cabinet’s decisions reflect Assam’s holistic approach toward governance—balancing humanitarian relief, employee welfare, economic reforms, and stringent border management—with illegal immigration emerging as a top priority for ensuring the state’s security, stability, and cultural integrity.
