Supreme Court orders Centre to deport 17 foreigners in Assam detention camps

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Central government to take immediate steps to deport 17 foreigners currently detained in camps in Assam [Rajubala Das vs Union of India and anr]..A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order after noting that the 17 persons have no pending cases against them."The report shows that there is a detention centre also known as a transit camp in Assam. There are 17 declared foreigners detained in the detention centre out of which four have spent two years. We are of the view that the Union must take immediate steps for deporting these 17 foreigners as there is no offence registered against them. Priority should be given to the 4 persons detained for 2 years," the Court said. The Court added that a compliance report should be furnished within two months.The matter will be heard next on July 26..The order was passed in a case regarding the condition of detention centres in Assam that are used to lodge those with doubtful citizenship and those deemed foreigners by tribunals.During today's hearing, Justice Oka in a lighter vein remarked that the 17 foreigners were being given facilities that should be availed by Indian citizens.Justice Bhuyan quizzed the Union government on the procedure for deportation of those without pending proceedings."These foreigners tribunals once they have given a finding, what is the next step? Do you have a deportation treaty with the neighbouring country? If they have to be sent there, how will they (without treaty)? You cannot keep them in the centres only," he said.