Guwahati: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that 13 out of 63 Bangladeshi nationals detained in Assam‘s Matia transit camp have been deported.
It also informed the apex court that consultations are on to repatriate the remaining illegal immigrants living in Assam’s detention centres.
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Assam government, informed a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan that the Bangladesh High Commission was involved in the process of deportation as it had to first ascertain whether the detenues were Bangladesh nationals.
On February 4, 2025, the Supreme Court questioned the lack of action regarding 63 individuals in the transit camps whose nationality was confirmed.
Mehta referred to the deportation process and said there were two classes of illegal foreigners, including persons declared as non-Indians whose nationality was known.
The other category involved those whom the tribunal declared as non-Indians but their nationality was not known, he said.
On Friday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta further told the Court that the verification process of the other detainees is ongoing with the Bangladeshi High Commission.
The Solicitor General said at present the government was making diplomatic efforts and holding consultations with the Bangladesh embassy to first accept the detenues were its citizens following which travel documents had to be processed for them to return to Bangladesh.
The Nationality Status Verification Format of the detained foreigners was sent to the Ministry of External Affairs on February 14, 2025, with reminders issued on the same day.
The Court directed the Assam government to file another affidavit by April 30, 2025, detailing the status of the NSVs and any further deportations.
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The bench also permitted the Gauhati High Court to continue the hearing of pleas of some detenues who had challenged the decision of the Foreigners Tribunal.
The matter will be heard next on May 6, 2025.
