New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – The Supreme Court on Tuesday sharply criticized the Assam government for indefinitely detaining individuals declared as foreigners instead of deporting them. The court questioned the delay, asking if the state was "waiting for some muhūrat" (auspicious time) to act.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan made it clear that once individuals are officially deemed foreigners, they must be deported without unnecessary delay.
"You have refused to start deportation, saying their addresses are not known. Why should that be our concern? You must deport them to their respective foreign countries. Are you waiting for some muhurat?" the bench questioned the Assam government's counsel.
Emphasizing the constitutional mandate, the court reminded the state of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. It further demanded clarity on the status of foreigners held in detention centres across Assam, pressing for figures on actual deportations.
Directing immediate action, the Supreme Court ordered the Assam government to commence deportation within two weeks for the 63 individuals currently in detention centres. The state has been instructed to submit a compliance affidavit detailing the execution of this directive.
The court was hearing a plea regarding the deportation of foreigners and the conditions in Assam’s detention centres. With this strong stance, the judiciary has reinforced the necessity of timely deportation while upholding constitutional rights.
