The Supreme Court of India has voiced serious concerns over the poor living conditions at the Matia detention centre for declared foreigners in Assam. Key issues highlighted include insufficient water supply, inadequate sanitation, and a lack of proper toilet facilities.
The review, conducted by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, was based on a report from the Assam State Legal Services Authority. The report pointed out numerous deficiencies at the Matia detention centre, notably failing to address the availability of food and medical services.
“The facilities are woefully inadequate, with no proper water supply, sanitation, or toilet facilities,” remarked the bench.
In response, the Supreme Court has instructed the Assam State Legal Services Authority to revisit the detention centre to assess the quality and quantity of food, the cleanliness of the kitchen, and the availability of medical and recreational facilities. A new report is expected within three weeks, with the next hearing set for September.
This judicial scrutiny comes after a directive issued on May 16, which called for the immediate deportation of 17 declared foreigners detained at the Matia facility, prioritizing those who have been held for more than two years.
During the recent proceedings, the Centre’s counsel confirmed compliance with deportation instructions but was requested to provide additional details on the detention centre’s conditions. The petitioner’s counsel underscored that some detainees have pending legal cases and argued that deportation should be deferred until all judicial processes are completed.
The court granted the Centre three weeks to address concerns regarding the deportation process, emphasizing that deportations should not proceed before the completion of the legal process. Additionally, the court sought clarification on whether the deportations are voluntary and if the Bangladesh government has agreed to accept the deportees.
The plea also seeks a directive to the Assam government, asking it to refrain from detaining individuals declared as foreigners by a tribunal unless there is a clear prospect of deportation in the near future.