Karnataka HC sets 3-month deadline for illegal immigration panels

The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to constitute and operationalise district-level committees within three months to deal with cases of illegal immigration. Justice M Nagaprasanna, in an order dated 16 October, said the committees must be functional in all districts where required, following the Union Home Ministry's Standard Operating Procedure issued in 2025 for detection, identification, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants. The court ordered a compliance report on the constitution and operational status of the panels.

The direction came while quashing two criminal cases against Bengaluru doctor T Nagendrappa, who had reported suspected undocumented Bangladeshi nationals to police in July. The court found the complaints against the doctor were filed in retaliation within 15 minutes of a recommendation to detain one of the complainants, casting a 'serious shadow' over the prosecution. The court said the criminal justice system cannot be turned into an instrument of reprisal against someone who reports an alleged illegality.