Supreme Court suggests refugee status for immigrants

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the government to review its repatriation policy to speed it up or come up with other ways to allow foreigners in detention centres in Assam to lead a dignified life. The SC suggestion to confer refugee status on detainees did not go down well with solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

“Illegal immigrants must leave the country and as soon as possible,” Mehta said, opposing the suggestion from a three-judge bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi. Mehta conceded that the process was slow as it involves establishing the nationality of the foreign national and getting the country to agree to take him back.