Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Assam State Legal Services Authority to conduct surprise visits at Matia transit camp for foreigners in Assam’s Goalpara district to check the facility’s hygiene and food quality.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih asked the secretary of State Legal Services Authority to nominate appropriate officers to pay visits to the transit camp that houses foreigners without prior notice to the authorities for the purpose of verifying cleanliness.
The top court has directed the Assam State Legal Services Authority to submit a report after inspection within a month.
The matter has been fixed for hearing on November 4, 2024.
On July 26, the Supreme Court criticized the deplorable conditions at a detention centre for declared foreigners in Assam, noting a lack of adequate water supply, proper toilets, and sanitation.
The bench, which was hearing a plea concerning the deportation of those who have been declared as foreigners and the facilities provided at the detention centres in Assam, said the report does not speak about the availability of food and medical help.
It had directed the secretary of the Assam State Legal Services Authority to ensure one more visit to ascertain the quantity and quality of the food supplied at the centre, if cleanliness is maintained in the kitchen and the existence of medical and recreational facilities.
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During a hearing on May 16, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to swiftly deport 17 declared foreigners detained in Matia. It prioritized the deportation of four individuals who have spent more than two years in the detention centre.
