New Delhi: The Assam government has discharged from duty Kamlesh Kumar Gupta, a member of a Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT), who courted controversy this past April by writing a letter to state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that contained communal overtones.
The state’s political department, which handles the FTs and is headed by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, said in an order dated May 22 that Gupta has been released from duty “in the interest of public service” and his conduct was “found to be unbecoming of a responsible FT member”.
Gupta, who headed a Tribunal in Baksa district of the state, said in the letter written on April 7 to Himanta Biswa Sarma that he, along with 12 FT members and staff of the tribunal, had collected a fund of Rs 62,999 for the Assam Arogya Nidhi, set up by the state government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “Our only prayer is that the help may not be extended to the members of violators of Tabligi Jamaat jihadi and jahil”.
An initial spurt in Assam’s COVID-19 cases was traced to those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area.
Also Read: Assam: Foreigners’ Tribunal Members ‘Communalise’ COVID-19 in Letter to Health Minister
Following an uproar in the state over Gupta’s communal condition set to the state government for spending the fund, the FT member said he had withdrawn the letter on April 11. The other FT members were thereafter sent a show-cause notice by the political department of the state, leading them to backtrack, saying they were not consulted by Gupta during the drafting of the letter.
Congress MP from Barpeta constituency, Abdul Khaleque, wrote a letter to Sonowal on April 16 seeking action against Gupta “for the highly communal” and “reprehensible” letter.
The tribunals deal with the cases filed by the state’s border police against persons suspected to be foreigners or undocumented Bangladeshis. The FTs also take up cases of people who have been termed doubtful or D-voter by the Election Commission of India.
In its May 22 order, the political department said, “In the interest of public service and in continuation of the department’s earlier notification dated May 16, 2020, Kamlesh Kumar Gupta, member, Foreigners Tribunal, Baksa, stands released with effect from May 23, 2020 (afternoon) as his conduct has been found to be unbecoming of a responsible FT member.” It said, Bimal Sarma, member, FT, Nalbari, would hold the additional charge of the Baksa Tribunal.
Gupta’s term was to end this May and the state government reportedly didn’t renew it, leading to his discharge from duty.