SC orders release of those in Assam detention centres for 2 years

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the release of detainees declared foreigners and lodged in detention centres in Assam for two years.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and M.M. Shantanagoudar, citing the apex court’s May 10, 2019 order, reduced the personal bond from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5,000 and reduced the minimum period under detention from three years to two years.

“The prisoners or detenues who have been under detention for two years shall be entitled to be released on the same terms and condition as those laid down… except that they shall not be required to furnish a bond in the sum of Rs 1 lakh. Instead they shall be required to furnish a bond in the sum of Rs 5, 000 with two sureties of the like sum of Indian citizens.”

The apex court order came on the intervention application filed by Justice for Liberty Initiative, a public charitable trust based in Assam, which sought release of detainees lodged in six Assam detention centres citing the outbreak of coronavirus. In May 2019, the apex court had said detainees who have spent more than three years in detention centres may be released upon furnishing a bond of Rs 1 lakh along with two sureties.   …………………….. Read more