New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the Assam government for not deporting people declared as foreigners. The top court also questioned the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led state government's claim that deportation was not possible as migrants didn’t disclose their foreign addresses.
Pulling up the Assam government over the delay in deportation, the apex court said, "Are you waiting for some muhurat." A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said once the detained persons are held to be foreigners, they should be deported immediately.
"You have refused to start deportation saying their addresses are not known. Why should it be our concern? You deport to their foreign country. Are you waiting for some muhurat (auspicious time)? " the bench told the counsel appearing for the Assam government as reported by PTI.
"Once you declare a person foreigner, then you have to take the next logical step. You cannot detain them till eternity. Article 21 of the Constitution is there. There are many foreigner detention centres in Assam. How many have you deported?" it added.
The bench also sought the data on illegal migrants from the Centre.
The Supreme Court directed the state government to initiate the deportation of 63 persons kept in detention centres within two weeks.
The Supreme Court's bench made these remarks while hearing a plea concerning the deportation of persons declared foreigners and facilities at the detention centres in Assam.
