Gauhati HC orders release of detention centre inmates who completed 2 years

Acting on two intervention petitions seeking the release of detention centre inmates over fears of them contracting Covid-19, the Supreme Court had ordered on April 13 that all detainees who had spent two years in detention should be released.

Published on: Apr 18, 2020, 10:12:57 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Following directives issued by the Supreme Court, Gauhati High Court has directed Assam police to release inmates of detention centres in the state who have completed two years in detention.

An under construction detention camp in Matia, Assam. (HT Photo)

In an order issued on April 15, the division bench of Justice Manojit Bhuyan and Justice Ajit Borthakur directed the police to compile a list of all such detainees and ensure that they are released.

Acting on two intervention petitions seeking the release of detention centre inmates over fears of them contracting Covid-19, the Supreme Court had ordered on April 13 that all detainees who had spent two years in detention should be released.

It was a modification of the Supreme Court’s order issued in May 2019 ordering the release of detainees who completed three years on furnishing two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each. The recent order reduced the amount for sureties to Rs 5,000 each.

There are six detention centres in Assam where those declared foreigners by foreigners’ tribunals are kept. According to government records, there were 802 inmates in these centres till March.

In its order, Gauhati High Court directed the border department of Assam police to prepare a list of eligible inmates and release them “expeditiously within an outer limit period of seven days”.

The court ordered the special director general of police (Border) to submit details of all those who have been released by the next date of hearing on April 25.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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