In covid-19 relief, SC orders release of Assam camp detainees of 2 years

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has allowed those who had completed two years in detention centres in Assam to be released on a bond of Rs 5,000 and two sureties of the same amount. The measure, despite opposition from the Centre, has been taken to curb outbreak of Covid-19.

The Centre contended that the detainees would mix with the rest of the population and it would be difficult to trace them if the government wanted to take action against them. However, the court shrugged off the opposition modify its earlier order permitting those who had completed three years in detention camps to be released in the current circumstances.

The people have been in detention centres under the Foreigners Act as they could not furnish requisite proof of citizenship but have appeals pending with the tribunal.


The court had ordered release of those who had completed three years on May 10, 2019. “That order was passed when there was no danger of any pandemic like the present one,” said a bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices L Nageswara Rao and MM Shantanagoudar.

The bench said that it had permitted all states to release under-trials and those serving shorter prison sentences on parole to ease overcrowding in jails. Delhi and Goa have recommended such release and only Bihar said that there was no overcrowding.