Right to life extends to all: SC questions Assam on detention of foreign nationals
New Delhi: The Supreme Court criticised the Assam government on Wednesday for failing to justify the detention of foreign nationals in transit camps and demanded an explanation from the state’s chief secretary, who has been asked to appear via virtual mode during the next hearing.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and N Kotiswar Singh emphasised that the fundamental right to life extends to all individuals, including foreigners. The court directed the state to take immediate steps to deport the detainees to their respective countries.
The bench was hearing a case concerning 270 individuals held in detention centres or transit camps in Assam. It observed that some detainees had been languishing in the camps for over a decade. "The affidavit submitted by the state fails to provide reasons for detaining these individuals and does not detail the steps taken for their deportation. This is a gross violation of the court's orders," the bench remarked.
The court had previously granted six weeks for the state government to file a compliance affidavit. Dissatisfied with the lack of a detailed response, the court instructed the chief secretary to clarify the non-compliance.
The Assam government’s counsel informed the court that the deportation of illegal migrants is coordinated through the Union government. He explained that the state is responsible for providing complete details, including contact information, to the Ministry of External Affairs, which verifies the identities of the migrants via diplomatic channels.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the Assam State Legal Services Authority to inspect the Matia transit camp, focusing on hygiene and food quality standards.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
We received request; will decide soon whether to support TVK: Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said that his party received a request from TVK for support and the high-level committee of his party will decide whether to support the Vijay-led party to form the government.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerged as the single largest party. Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won.
Though the Congress party, which has five MLAs, has extended support to TVK, the actor-politician-led party was still short of as many seats to touch the magic number of 118, the majority mark in the 234-member House.
"We received the request letter from TVK. We are thankful for that. We have not ignored his (Vijay's) request. We have a procedure. Therefore, our party's high-level committee will decide soon. We are going to discuss the merits and demerits of our position," the VCK leader told reporters here.
With regard to the delay in the governor's call to the TVK, which is the single largest party, to form the government, Thirumavalavan requested the governor to invite Vijay to form the government. "It is a constitutional right and people's verdict," he added.
Asserting that the governor cannot say that Vijay should hold 118 MLAs' support now itself to form the government, he said that after taking over power, Vijay has to prove an absolute majority only on the floor of the Assembly.
