Argument in Supreme Court, India news challenges the ‘push back’ drive of Assam against alleged foreigners

New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, alleging that the Assam government has launched “comprehensive and indiscriminate drives” to detain and deport people who suspect foreigners without proper verification of its nationality or legal measures.Through advocate Adil Ahmed, all the BTC Minority Students Union filed, the petition refers to an order of the Supreme Court on February 4, which directed the state to deport 63 declared foreign nationals whose nationality was confirmed. The petition claims that the state has misunderstood the instructions and is now working to find out arbitrarily in those cases where individuals have not been declared foreigners by tribunals.Citing news reports including a retired school teacher, allegedly “pushed back” in Bangladesh, the petition says that such tasks indicate a growing trend of informal exile without judicial inspection. “These push backs are allegedly being executed in border districts such as Dhubri, Dakshin Salamara and Golpara,” it warns that poor and marginalized Indian citizens can be misrepresented and can be deported.The argument argues that this “push back” policy violates Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, equality and protection of life and personal freedom before law, proper procedure to individuals, legal representation and right to appeal. This wants a direction from the apex court to ensure that no person is deported without a formal announcement by the foreigner of foreigners, verification by the Ministry of External Affairs, and access to legal measures.It also urges the court to declare Assam’s current exile system in violation of unconstitutional and previous judicial examples.