Are You Waiting for Muhurat?: SC Pulls Up Assam Govt Over Delay in Deporting Declared Foreigners
First Published: 4th February, 2025 17:38 IST
The Supreme Court ordered the Assam government to initiate the deportation of 63 detainees within 2 weeks and submit a compliance affidavit detailing the progress.
The Supreme Court today pulled up the Assam government for its failure to deport individuals declared as foreigners, who remain indefinitely detained in foreigner detention centres across the state.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed strong disapproval over the state’s inaction, questioning why the deportation process had not commenced despite official declarations of their foreign status.
During the hearing, the bench asked, “Why should it be our concern? You deport them to their foreign country. Are you waiting for some muhurat (auspicious time)?.”
The court particularly criticised Assam’s argument that deportations were stalled due to the detainees’ unknown addresses.
The justices emphasised that indefinite detention is not a solution, citing Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
They questioned the Assam government on the total number of foreigners deported so far, highlighting the presence of multiple detention centres in the state.
“Once you declare a person foreigner, then you have to take the next logical step. You cannot detain them till eternity. Article 21 of the Constitution is there. There are many foreigner detention centres in Assam. How many have you deported?” the court stated firmly.
In a decisive directive, the Supreme Court ordered the Assam government to initiate the deportation of 63 detainees within 2 weeks and submit a compliance affidavit detailing the progress.
The hearing was part of an ongoing plea regarding the conditions of Assam’s detention centres and the state’s handling of declared foreigners.
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