Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed deep concern over the “sorry state” of a detention center in Assam, which houses individuals with unclear citizenship status and foreigners awaiting deportation. The court highlighted severe deficiencies in water supply, sanitation, and toilet facilities at the Matia detention center in Goalpara district.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay Oka and Justice AG Masih cited a report from the Secretary of the Assam Legal Services Authority detailing the grim conditions at the center. “There are no proper toilets… no medical facilities. What are you managing?” the court questioned.
“We find the facilities are very poor… there is no adequate water supply, no sanitation system, or proper toilets. The report does not mention medical health either,” the court remarked.
The Supreme Court has directed the Assam Legal Services Authority to conduct a follow-up visit to assess not only the inadequacies highlighted in the report but also the quality and quantity of food and kitchen hygiene. A comprehensive report is to be submitted within three weeks.
According to the petitioner, the Matia detention center currently holds 3,000 individuals. The court has also instructed the center to address the issue of deportation within the same timeframe.
Previously, the court had ordered the deportation of 17 declared foreigners detained across the northeastern state, with four of them having been held for over two years. This prompted the directive for the Assam Legal Services Authority to inspect the detention camp.
