The Supreme Court’s reprimand of the Assam government for detaining 270 Bangladeshi foreigners in detention centres highlights concerns over human rights violations. By summoning the Chief Secretary, the court has signaled its dissatisfaction with the state’s handling of detainees, particularly regarding conditions at these facilities.
This reflects a growing judicial emphasis on humane treatment and adherence to constitutional values. The directive for surprise inspections by the Assam State Legal Services Authority indicates the court’s proactive approach to ensuring accountability. Issues like poor hygiene, inadequate food quality, and overcrowding in detention centres have long been criticized.
These visits aim to uphold minimum standards of care, especially as such facilities are meant to house detainees temporarily, not indefinitely. This intervention brings Assam’s contentious detention and deportation policies under greater scrutiny, particularly in the context of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
It underscores the need for a balanced approach that respects both national security and fundamental human rights, urging systemic reforms to address these long-standing issues.