Govt framing guidelines for keeping foreigners in detention centres

New Delhi: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the process of framing guidelines for keeping foreign nationals in detention centres across the country was "under preparation".

The Centre told a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur that the work of framing detention manual or guidelines was being taken up "very seriously".

It also stated that in the meanwhile, some circulars had been issued to the state of Assam in this regard.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and R Subhash Reddy, said the Centre would ensure that requirements of the circulars or guidelines issued by the central government be adhered to by Assam.

The issue of framing of detention manual for keeping foreign nationals had cropped up when the apex court was hearing a matter related to the condition of detention centres in Assam.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Assam, told the bench that necessary steps would be taken by the state to implement "faithfully" the circulars issued by the Centre.

Mehta told the bench that Assam had invited tenders for setting up of a new detention centre in Goalpara and the work is expected to be completed using pre-fab technology by August 31 next year.

The state government also said there were 47 declared foreign nationals or their family members that were proposed to be transferred for being reunited and the transfer process would take about 15 days.