Author: Parul

ISBN: 978-93-7183-636-4

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/552

Date of Publication: December 31, 2025

About the Book:

The movement of people across borders in search of safety, dignity, and survival is one of the most pressing humanitarian and legal challenges of the contemporary world. In India, and particularly in the state of Assam, questions surrounding refugees, migrants, citizenship, and human rights have acquired unique historical, legal, and socio-political dimensions. Refugees and the Law: Understanding Assam’s Humanitarian Landscape is an attempt to examine these complexities through a structured legal and humanitarian lens.

Assam’s geographical location, colonial history, patterns of migration, and post-independence political developments have contributed to a distinctive refugee and migration scenario. The state has witnessed multiple waves of displacement caused by partition, conflict, environmental degradation, and economic vulnerability. These movements have raised difficult questions relating to citizenship, identity, border management, and the protection of displaced populations. At the same time, the absence of a comprehensive national refugee law in India places greater emphasis on constitutional principles, judicial interpretations, and international legal norms in addressing refugee protection.

This textbook seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice by presenting a comprehensive understanding of refugee law within the specific context of Assam. It explores international refugee protection frameworks, India’s constitutional and statutory responses, judicial pronouncements, and administrative mechanisms that shape the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. Special attention is given to humanitarian concerns, including access to basic rights, legal remedies, detention practices, and the role of civil society and international organizations.

The book is designed for students of law, political science, public administration, sociology, and human rights, as well as practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. Each chapter is structured to encourage critical thinking, supported by case studies, legal provisions, and contemporary developments. By situating legal analysis within Assam’s lived realities, the book aims to foster a nuanced understanding of refugee protection that goes beyond abstract legal principles.

Ultimately, Refugees and the Law: Understanding Assam’s Humanitarian Landscape aspires to contribute to informed academic discourse and policy debate, emphasizing the need for a humane, rights-based, and legally sound approach to displacement and refugee protection. It is hoped that this work will serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and engage with one of the most sensitive and significant humanitarian issues of our time.