Supreme Court slams Assam govt over for its “plea” to release inmates of detention camps

April 25: The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Assam government for its “plea” to release the inmates of detention camps on conditions. Assam Chief Secretary Alok Kumar in the Harsh Mander Versus Union of India on unlawful detention of foreigners submitted an affidavit in the apex court wherein he proposed the release of detained foreigners after five years with a bond of Rs. 5 lakh and biometric.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjiv Khanna wa s hearing a PIL by Harsh Mander, a social activist, who moved the court raising concern on the plight of inmates in the state detention camps. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared on behalf of former civil servant Harsh Mander.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said “How do you expect SC to be a party to an order allowing those who have no right to remain in India to be allowed to do so on…Your Govt. has not succeeded in following Constitution & you expect SC to be a party to it. You are asking the SC to be a party to an illegal order. We will order departmental proceedings against you right now. You have no right to continue in office.”

Amicus Gaurab Banerjee informed the court that a collaborative mechanism needs to be developed with assistance of the country of origin of these foreigners, and that detainees, too, should cooperate. The court observed that it is apparent that government failed in its job. “Assam Government has disobeyed the Constitution of India,” Gogoi said. Prashant Bhushan appearing for the petitioner, sought time to file his reply to the affidavit.