Highest executive level considering deportation of foreigners in Assam, Centre tells Supreme Court

People lodged in detention centres in Assam's Karimganj. (Courtesy: PTI file photo)

The Supreme Court was Tuesday informed by the Centre that the issue of deportation of persons declared foreigners in Assam was under consideration at the "highest executive level".

Appearing before Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said a decision on deporting the identified foreigners was likely by March 21.

He sought time, which was granted by the bench to place on record the Centre's decision and posted the matter on March 21.

The top court on February 4 slammed the Assam government for keeping persons declared foreigners in detention centres indefinitely and not deporting them saying if it was waiting for "some muhurat".

Observing Assam was suppressing facts, the court said once the detainees were identified as foreigners, they ought to be deported immediately.

The top court expressed surprise at the state government's explanation that it was not sending nationality verification forms to the Ministry of External Affairs as detainees' addresses in the foreign country were unknown.

Calling it a "defective" affidavit, the top court on January 22 slammed the Assam government for not stipulating reasons for detaining 270 foreigners at the Matia transit camp.

The top court directed Assam State Legal Services Authority to conduct surprise visits at the camp to check on the facility's hygiene and food quality.

The bench was hearing a plea concerning the aspect of deportation and facilities at the detention centres in Assam.

While hearing the matter on May 16, 2024, the apex court said the Centre must take immediate steps for deporting 17 foreigners at the detention centre in Matia and asked to prioritise the deportation of those who had spent more than two years in the camp.

The plea further sought a direction to the Assam government to not detain any person declared a foreigner by the tribunal until it could show proof of a possible deportation in near future.