Framing guidelines for keeping foreigners in detention-centers: Government tells SC
The Center has informed the Supreme Court that the process of framing guidelines for keeping foreign nationals in detention centers across the country was "under preparation". The Center told the bench, headed by Justice Madan B Lokur and comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and R Subhash Reddy, that in the meanwhile, some circulars have been issued to the state of Assam in this regard.
Issue cropped-up on foreign nationals' condition in Assam detention centers
The bench said the Center would ensure that requirements of the circulars or the guidelines issued by the central government will be adhered to by Assam. The issue of framing of detention manual for keeping foreign nationals had cropped up when the apex court was hearing a matter related to the condition of detention centers in the north-eastern state of Assam.
State will 'faithfully' implement Center's circulars: Assam Solicitor General
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Assam, told the bench that necessary steps would be taken by the state to implement "faithfully" the circulars issued by the Center. Mehta told the bench that tenders have been invited by Assam for setting up a new detention center in Goalpara and the work is expected to be completed using pre-fab technology by August 31 next year.
Transfer process of foreign nationals would take 15 days: Assam-government
"We expect the state of Assam to adhere to the timeline, more particularly since the executing agency is the Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd," the bench said. The state government also said there were 47 declared foreign nationals or their family members that were proposed to be transferred for being reunited and the transfer process would take about 15 days.
Inappropriate to keep the families separated: SC
"We are of the view that it would be inappropriate to keep the families separated without any valid reason, more particularly since many of them have already been separated for a considerable period of time," the bench said.
Next hearing will be held in February 2019
"Therefore, we require the state of Assam to speed up the process and complete it within a period of seven days and in any event within a maximum period of ten days since sufficient time has already elapsed," the bench said in its November 2 order. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing in February next year.
