Supreme Court rejects plea against Assam’s deportation drive

New Delhi

 The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the All B.T.C. Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU), which challenged Assam government’s aggressive detention and deportation of individuals suspected to be foreigners. The apex court directed the petitioners to approach the Gauhati High Court for appropriate relief.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma refused to entertain the plea, saying, “Please go to the Gauhati High Court. We are dismissing this petition.” The writ petition, filed through advocate Adeel Ahmed, raised concerns about the Assam Police’s use of informal “push back” methods to deport people from border districts such as Dhubri, South Salmara, and Goalpara, without judicial oversight or constitutional safeguards. The petition argued that these actions risk rendering many Indian citizens stateless, particularly those from marginalized communities who lack access to legal aid.

The petitioner contended that these measures violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 21, and 22 of the Constitution, as well as Supreme Court precedents, including the landmark judgment in “Re: Section 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955.” It highlighted that deportations often occur without communication of Foreigners Tribunal orders, verification by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), or informing individuals about their right to seek review or appeal. The ABMSU sought a declaration that deportations carried out without due process are unconstitutional and urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and legal services authorities to intervene and safeguard affected individuals’ rights.