The Supreme Court today said that it will examine the issue relating to living conditions in foreigners detention centres in the State of Assam..The Bench of Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna said that it will examine the following aspects in a plea by activist Harsh Mander:.Conditions in detention centresThe long period for which foreigners are detained in the detention centre..Mandar in his petition has sought a declaration that those who have been determined to be foreigners and held in detention pending their repatriation, be treated as refugees..The petition also prays that detention of a foreigner should be the last resort and there should be clear prospects for release..When the matter was last heard last month, the Supreme Court had sought the following details from the State of Assam:.The total number of detention centres and the inmates therein. The period for which inmates have been detained.Whether all the inmates are declared foreigners.How many declared foreigners have been deported?.When the matter was taken up today, the Centre told the Court that there are six detention centres housing more than 900 persons..The Bench seemed unimpressed after going through the data submitted by the State..“Only 52,000 have been declared foreigners, though the NRC identified that there are 40 lakh illegal immigrants. Further, only 166 have been deported. How will the people have confidence in your government”, CJI Ranjan Gogoi asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was appearing for the State of Assam..Gogoi J. also made remarks about the poor living conditions in detention centres..“One issue highlighted is the poor living conditions in detention centres. You have to ensure minimum living conditions. You cannot have inhuman conditions in detention centres.”.Solicitor General told the Court that the Central government has prepared a detention manual which has guidelines for all detention centres. Further, he also submitted that a new detention centre will be constructed with the funds granted by the Central government..The Bench was also not impressed by the fact that many of the inmates in the detention centres were lodged there for a long time..“The idea is such persons should be kept in the detention centre for minimum time”, said Gogoi j..The Court then heard petitioner’s lawyer, Prashant Bhushan before deciding that it will look into the two issues in the case – living conditions in prisons and the long period for which persons are detained in the detention centres..The Court has directed the State government to have deliberations with the Union government and sort the issues..The matter will now be heard on March 13.
The Supreme Court today said that it will examine the issue relating to living conditions in foreigners detention centres in the State of Assam..The Bench of Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna said that it will examine the following aspects in a plea by activist Harsh Mander:.Conditions in detention centresThe long period for which foreigners are detained in the detention centre..Mandar in his petition has sought a declaration that those who have been determined to be foreigners and held in detention pending their repatriation, be treated as refugees..The petition also prays that detention of a foreigner should be the last resort and there should be clear prospects for release..When the matter was last heard last month, the Supreme Court had sought the following details from the State of Assam:.The total number of detention centres and the inmates therein. The period for which inmates have been detained.Whether all the inmates are declared foreigners.How many declared foreigners have been deported?.When the matter was taken up today, the Centre told the Court that there are six detention centres housing more than 900 persons..The Bench seemed unimpressed after going through the data submitted by the State..“Only 52,000 have been declared foreigners, though the NRC identified that there are 40 lakh illegal immigrants. Further, only 166 have been deported. How will the people have confidence in your government”, CJI Ranjan Gogoi asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was appearing for the State of Assam..Gogoi J. also made remarks about the poor living conditions in detention centres..“One issue highlighted is the poor living conditions in detention centres. You have to ensure minimum living conditions. You cannot have inhuman conditions in detention centres.”.Solicitor General told the Court that the Central government has prepared a detention manual which has guidelines for all detention centres. Further, he also submitted that a new detention centre will be constructed with the funds granted by the Central government..The Bench was also not impressed by the fact that many of the inmates in the detention centres were lodged there for a long time..“The idea is such persons should be kept in the detention centre for minimum time”, said Gogoi j..The Court then heard petitioner’s lawyer, Prashant Bhushan before deciding that it will look into the two issues in the case – living conditions in prisons and the long period for which persons are detained in the detention centres..The Court has directed the State government to have deliberations with the Union government and sort the issues..The matter will now be heard on March 13.
