New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday (February 25) informed the Supreme Court that the issue of deporting persons declared foreigners in Assam was under consideration at the “highest executive level”.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that a decision on deportment of unidentified foreigners was likely by March 21.
Apex court granted Centre time
Mehta sought time from the court to place on record the decision of the Centre on the matter.
The top court granted Centre time for the same and posted the matter for further hearing on March 21.
Apex court earlier slammed state government for keeping persons declared foreigners in detention centres indefinitely
The apex court had on February 4, while hearing the matter, had slammed the state government of Assam for keeping persons declared foreigners in detention centres indefinitely and not deporting them, saying once the detainees were identified as foreigners, they should be deported immediately.
The bench had questioned the explanation by the Assam government that it was not sending nationality verification forms to the Ministry of External Affairs as the addresses of detainees in the foreign country were unknown.
Are you waiting for some muhurat, bench had asked
“You have refused to start deportation saying their addresses are not known. Why should it be our concern? You deport them to their foreign country. Are you waiting for some muhurat (auspicious time)?” the bench had asked.
Apex court earlier directed Assam government to file a proper affidavit
The apex court, while observing that the Assam government has filed an affidavit which is as vague as its earlier affidavits and that the state government was suppressing facts, had also directed the Assam government to file a proper affidavit.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, while expressing apology for the lacunaes in the affidavit filed by the Assam government, had assured the bench during the last hearing that he would speak to the highest executive and furnish all details in court.
