The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred to a constitutional bench the question whether the children of illegal migrants born here can avail the benefit of citizenship under the existing law. "We are referring to the Constitution bench the question as to the whether the children of illegal migrants would get the benefit of Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, as amended," a bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said.
The bench, which is hearing various pleas arising out of its verdict on PILs on influx of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to Assam, however, decided to keep monitoring implementation of its directions.
The SC had, in Dec last year, passed a slew of directions, including an order to the Centre to complete fencing work along India-Bangladesh border within three months to check cross-border influx of illegal Bangladesh nationals into Assam and streamline the process to deport them back.