New Delhi/IBNS, July 13 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stressed that the determination of citizenship and foreigner status must be carried out through a "fair, lawful and reasonable" process, while setting aside a Gauhati High Court order that had upheld the declaration of 27 individuals as foreigners, media reports said.

The case relates to 27 individuals who had challenged an ex parte order of a Foreigners Tribunal declaring them foreigners.

The High Court also noted that the petitioners had failed to appear before the tribunal despite repeated notices.

A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta allowed the appeals and remanded the cases to the respective Foreigners Tribunals for fresh adjudication.

The apex court obs...