In Brief
The Supreme Court resolved a perceived conflict in citizenship registration rules for Assam. It held that once a Foreigners Tribunal determines whether a person is a foreigner under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, that determination is final and binding. No second appeal can be filed under paragraph 8 of the 2003 Rules if the Tribunal has already decided the person's nationality status. The Court clarified that a Tribunal's opinion is a quasi-judicial order operating as res judicata, not merely an administrative decision. It rejected the appellants' request to create a separate appellate forum, holding that legislative matters are reserved for Parliament.
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