Guwahati: The Supreme Court has directed the Assam government to ensure basic facilities at the Matia Transit Camp, where persons with doubtful citizenship or those deemed foreigners by tribunals are detained, within a month.
A bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih, gave the directive while hearing a case regarding the condition of detention centres in the state of Assam.
“We have perused the report, dated October 24, 2024, submitted by the team constituted by the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA). To say the least, the condition of the detention camp is far from being satisfactory. Even basic amenities are lacking as can be seen from the detailed report submitted by the team constituted by the ASLSA,” a bench of the Court, comprising Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih, stated in its order.
It may be noted that the Court had, on October 4, 2024, directed the ASLSA to conduct inspections at the Matia transit camp to assess aspects such as hygiene, food quality and overall living conditions at the detention camp.
The inspection was to verify claims made by the Assam government in a compliance affidavit, which asserted that the state had improved conditions at the camp.
The Court further directed the secretary of the concerned Assam government department to visit the camp and convene a meeting with all concerned authorities to ensure the implementation of necessary facilities.
“We direct the secretary in charge of the concerned department of the state of Assam to immediately make a visit to the detention camp, hold a meeting with all the concerned authorities and ensure that all facilities are in place in the detention camp within a maximum period of one month from today. Even the secretary of the ASLSA shall also be invited to attend the meeting,” the Court stated in its order.
“A comprehensive affidavit shall be filed by the secretary of the concerned department of state of Assam within a period of one month from today which shall be considered on December 9, 2024,” the Court directed.
Justice Oka remarked that the conditions in the camp were unsatisfactory, with no vocational training centre, no provision for distance education and no female doctor available on-site.
The Court posted the matter on December 9, for consideration of compliance and of the issue of deportation of foreign nationals.
In July this year, the Court noted the “sorry state of affairs” after a report by the Assam Legal Services Authority highlighted issues like inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and insufficient toilet facilities. The Court had, at that time, expressed concern over the substandard conditions under which declared foreigners were being held.
Notably, 211 foreign nationals are detained at the camp, including 66 individuals from Bangladesh.
The Court had directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Assam government to respond on how they planned to deport these foreign nationals.
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