Assam Detention Centres: “State of Assam playing around with the Court”, SC orders personal presence of Chief Secretary

In the Assam Detention Centres matter, the Supreme Court today summoned the Chief Secretary of Assam and directed that he shall not be allowed to return to the State till the Court so permits..Further, the Court nearly issued a non-bailable arrest warrant to ensure the presence of the Chief Secretary. However, it refrained from doing so after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the Court that the Chief Secretary will be present for the next hearing..“Your State is playing with this Court. Your affidavit is an exercise in futility”, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi remarked..The case relates to the living conditions of foreigners in Assam detention centres. When the matter was last heard, the Supreme Court decided to look into the matter. Specifically, the issues of living conditions and the long periods for which foreigners are detained in the centres was sought to be looked into..The Court was not too happy with the data provided on the issue by the Assam government. CJI Gogoi had remarked,.The Bench seemed unimpressed after going through the data submitted by the State..“Only 52,000 have been declared foreigners, though the NRC identified that there are 40 lakh illegal immigrants. Further, only 166 have been deported. How will the people have confidence in your government?”.The Bench had also directed the state government to have deliberations with the Centre and sort out the issues..When the matter was taken up today, CJI Ranjan Gogoi asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta details about foreigners who have merged with the local population..“We want to know what you are doing to improve the conditions in detention centres? How long will you take to deport them?….What is your government planning to do to trace those people who have merged with the local population?”, Gogoi J. demanded..Gogoi J also noticed the absence of the Chief Secretary of Assam. He then quizzed the Solicitor General on the same..“Where is your Chief Secretary? Was he not present during the last hearing?”, asked Gogoi J..Mehta replied that he was present during the last hearing, but was not in the Supreme Court today..Gogoi J. made clear his displeasure at the absence of Chief Secretary. He said,.“These people who are not in detention centres, are you tracing them? Your State is playing around with this Court. Your affidavits are an exercise in futility.” .The CJI then said that he is inclined to issue a non-bailable arrest warrant to ensure the presence of the Chief Secretary in Court..Mehta then assured that the Chief Secretary will be present for the next hearing..The Court recorded the same while also directing that the Chief Secretary shall not return to Assam till the Court so permits..The matter is next listed for hearing on April 8.