The Supreme Court has slammed the Assam government for not giving a proper affidavit about the illegal immigrants kept in the Matia detention centre. The apex court has called the affidavit ‘defective’. A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh ordered that the Chief Secretary of Assam should remain present through video conferencing in the next hearing of the issue.
On December 9, the Supreme Court had granted the Assam government 6-week’s time to file an affidavit and explain why it is detaining 270 illegal immigrants in the Matia Transit Centre and what steps have been taken for their deportation. The SC was displeased over the continued detention of the said detainees even after they were declared illegal foreigners as the foreigners tribunal and asked the state government to explain why the process of deportation has not been initiated yet.
Though the court granted the request of the state government to keep the affidavit confidential over the plea that it contains personal details of the detainees, the SC directed the Assam State Legal Services Authority to conduct surprise visits at the Matia camp to check if the detainees are being provided with basic necessities.
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