The Supreme Court of India has scheduled March 21 as the deadline for the Union government to respond to its queries about the deportation process for 270 foreign nationals currently detained in Assam’s transit camps. This directive follows a request by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for additional time to facilitate deliberations at the highest levels of government.
During the court session on Tuesday, the bench, led by Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, agreed to adjourn the hearing after the Solicitor General indicated that the matter was under consideration at the executive level. “The learned solicitor general states that the issue of deportation of foreigners is being dealt with at the highest executive level. If time is granted, he will place on record the decision taken by the competent authority,” noted the justices in their order.
This legal proceeding is critical as it addresses the fate of foreign nationals who have been held in Assam’s detention facilities. The Supreme Court’s previous order on February 4 emphasized the urgency of resolving their situation, highlighting that indefinite detention without clear resolution constitutes a violation of human rights.
The case has been marked by significant challenges, including the identification and verification of the detainees’ nationalities. Assam’s government previously reported difficulties in deporting 63 of the detainees due to the absence of foreign addresses, an excuse the Supreme Court deemed insufficient. “Not having a foreign address can never be a ground. These foreigners also have rights under Article 21, and they cannot be detained endlessly,” the court had stated.
In addition to setting the upcoming deadline for a detailed response, the Supreme Court had earlier mandated that Assam’s government expedite the deportation process. This includes ensuring that all necessary documents are promptly forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs for those whose nationalities have been confirmed.
