SC Slams Assam Govt Over Not Citing Reasons for Detention of 270 Foreigners

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 22) slammed the Assam government over the latter’s reply to the apex court on the issues of detention of alleged illegal immigrants.

The court said the state government didn’t give reasons for detaining 270 foreigners at the Matia transit camp.

The top court termed the Assam government’s affidavit as “defective,” reported the Press Trust of India.

"The affidavit does not give any justification for detaining...steps taken to deport are not set out. This is gross violation of orders of this court. We direct the chief secretary to remain present through video-conferencing and explain the non-compliance," said a bench of Supreme Court Justices Abhay S. Oka and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh.

The court said that it had thought the state will furnish reasons for detaining the 270 foreign nationals in detention camps along with steps taken for their deportation.

The counsel representing the Assam government said that the persons were detained only after they were declared foreigners by foreigners’ tribunal and also explained the system of deporting illegal immigrants.

The court then wanted to know that why detentions were continuing despite the fact that the deportation process had not yet started.

The bench also expressed its displeasure when the counsel for the Assam government said that the affidavit was confidential and should remain sealed.

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