Question : Detention Camps in Assam

(a) whether the Government has started detention camps in Assam to detain those who don’t have enough documents proving their citizenship;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) if so, the period for which the Government will entertain such actions and the manner in which the detainees will be treated;

(d) whether the Government is aware that such detention camps are against the Constitution and completely inhuman;

(e) whether the Government has any plan to increase the number of foreign tribunals to make the verification proceedings convenient; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) and (b): No, sir. Detention centres in Assam are to detain the Declared Foreign Nationals (DFNs) and Convicted Foreigners who have completed their sentences and whose repatriation to their country of origin is pending nationality verification.
(c) and (d): Detention Centres have been set up in Assam under powers under Section 3(2) (e) of Foreigners Act, 1946 delegated to all State Governments/Union Territories. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a ‘Model
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LS.US.Q.NO.3737 FOR 16.07.2019
Detention Centre/Holding Centre/Camp Manual’ for implementation and compliance. The Model Detention Centre Manual, inter-alia, prescribes the amenities to be provided in the Detention Centres to maintain standards of living in consonance with human dignity including electricity with generator, drinking water, hygiene, accommodation with beds, sufficient toilets/baths with provisions of running water, communication and medical facilities, provisions for kitchen and recreational facilities.
(e) and (f): Increase in the number of foreigners tribunal is undertaken based on assessment of requirement by the State Government which is a continuous process.

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