In order to verify the claims made by the government of Assam regarding the hygienic conditions, availability of food and overall living conditions prevailing at the Matia Transit Camp in Goalpara, Assam, the Supreme Court has ordered the Assam State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) to conduct surprise inspections of the facility.
The Bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih on Friday sought a report from SLSA detailing the findings of these inspections within one month.
The Apex Court ordered the SLSA Secretary to nominate appropriate officers for carrying out periodic inspections at the camp without giving prior notice to the authorities to verify the state’s claims made in a compliance affidavit regarding improvements at the facility.
The Bench passed the order to verify the claims made by Ranadip Dam, Joint Secretary, General Administration Department, Government of Assam, in a compliance affidavit.
Earlier in July, the top court of the country had flagged the ‘sorry’ state of affairs at the Matia Transit Camp housing foreign nationals.
The Court had expressed its displeasure over the lack of adequate water supply, poor sanitation systems, and insufficient toilet facilities at the camp, following a report submitted by the Assam Legal Services Authority.
It further expressed concern over the deplorable conditions under which the declared foreigners were being held at the facility.
The Apex Court had also addressed the issue of deporting of 211 foreign nationals detained at the camp in October this year, including Bangladesh nationals.
Both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Assam government were issued notice to respond on how they planned to deport these foreign nationals.
On October 4, the Bench noted that while Assam had filed an affidavit in this regard, the Union of India was yet to do so.
The Apex Court granted the Central government time till October 25 to file the affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on November 4, 2024.