The Tripura High Court has directed the state government to submit a detailed status report within the next 90 days outlining the specific actions taken to curb illegal infiltration across the international border. The directive comes amid growing concerns over internal security and allegations that central guidelines for detecting and deporting undocumented immigrants are not being effectively implemented.
A division bench, led by Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao, issued the order on Thursday following a petition that challenged the state’s current enforcement of border protocols.
The judicial intervention was prompted by a petition filed by three individuals, including Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma. The petitioners argued that while the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has provided clear frameworks for preventing illegal entry, the state administration has allegedly failed to execute these measures with the necessary rigor.
“The division bench asked the state government to submit a detailed report within the next three months on the steps taken to detect, detain, and deport infiltrators, as per the MHA guidelines,” stated Anthony Debbarma, the advocate representing the petitioners, during a briefing on Friday.
The state of Tripura shares a porous 856 km international boundary with Bangladesh. While approximately 85 percent of this border is currently fenced, the petitioners claim that gaps in surveillance and enforcement continue to pose a risk.
Ranjit Debbarma, the MLA at the forefront of the petition, emphasized that the legal move was a last resort. He noted that despite raising the issue in various administrative forums, he had not received an adequate response regarding the state’s anti-infiltration operations.
“Infiltration should stop immediately to ensure the internal security of the state,” the MLA remarked following the court’s order. He further contended that while neighboring states are actively identifying and deporting illegal immigrants in alignment with MHA protocols, Tripura’s efforts have been insufficient.
The High Court’s three-month deadline puts the onus on the state government to provide transparent data on its security operations. The forthcoming report is expected to detail the coordination between state police and central agencies, the effectiveness of existing detention centers, and the timeline for pending deportations.
The court is expected to review the state’s submission later this year to determine if further judicial intervention or structural changes are required to secure the state’s borders.
