SC FLAGS 'SORRY STATE' OF FOREIGN DETENTION CENTRES IN ASSAM, SEEKS REPORT WITHIN THREE WEEKS

The Supreme Court on Friday mentioned the "sorry state" of a detention centre in Assam, where individuals with doubtful citizenship and deemed foreigners are kept. The court said that there is no adequate water supply, proper sanitation systems, or proper toilets. 

“Please see the report by Assam State Legal Service Authority. Such a sorry state of affairs....there are no proper toilets, no medical facilities. What kind of facilities you are managing?,” the court said, as quoted by Live Law.

A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Augustine George Masih made the observations after perusing a report from the Secretary of Assam Legal Services Authority regarding the detention centre in Matial, Assam. Based on this, the Bench observed in its order:

“We find that the facilities are very poor in the sense there is no adequate water supply, there are no proper sanitation systems, there are no proper toilets. The report does not speak about the facility of food and medical health,” the court added.

Meanwhile, for the petitoner, Senior Advocate Colin Gonslaves submitted that it was a very big detention centre with 3000 people in it.

"I saw the report and everywhere the report says it is informed, it is informed, it is informed. They must go to the area and meet the people like NHRC did," the apex court further added.

The court has directed the Secretary of the  Assam State Legal Service Authority to ensure one more visit so that the quality and quantity of food served and the cleanliness of the kitchen can be ascertained.

“The Secretary to submit a fresh report within 3 weeks. Union of India to file a response on the issue of deportation within three weeks.,” the Court ordered.

Earlier, the court had directed the centre to take steps to deport 17 declared foreigners detained in transit camps of Assam. The direction was passed, considering that no pending cases were registered against them. Apart from that, four of such foreigners were detained for a period of two years.