New Delhi, 25 February (HS). The Central Government has said that the matter of deporting people declared foreigners in Assam is being considered at the highest level of the executive. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Central Government, said that a decision will be taken on this matter by March 21.

During the hearing, Mehta demanded time to inform the court about the decisions of the Center, which the court accepted and fixed the next date of hearing on March 21.

Let us tell you that on February 04, the Assam government was reprimanded for not taking steps to deport people declared foreigners in Assam and keeping them in detention centers indefinitely. The Supreme Court had warned the Assam government and said that we can issue you a notice of false testimony. The court had asked the Assam government to give a status report on the deportation of foreigners kept in the detention center as well as to find out the citizenship of other people.

The court had said ,As a state government, you should clarify your stand. Apart from this, the court had also said that the state government's money is being spent on the people kept in custody for years, but this concern does not seem to affect the government. The court had asked the Chief Secretary of Assam that why should we worry about their correct local address. You deport them to their country. You can deport them even without an address. You cannot keep them in custody indefinitely.

During the hearing, lawyer Colin Gonsalves on behalf of the petitioner said that the Government of India says that they are not Indians. Bangladesh says that they are not Bangladeshis. At present, they have become stateless.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar