The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Assam government to ensure basic amenities “within one month” at the detention camps set up in the state to lodge illegal immigrants, many of whom are due for deportation.

The court expressed anguish at the lack of facilities such as sanitation and healthcare, including women doctors. A bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih directed the Assam government to file a detailed compliance affidavit.

The court said it would examine the affidavit filed by the Centre on the steps taken for the deportation of the illegal immigrants and posted the matter for further hearing on December 9.

The order stated: “We have perused the report dated October 24, 2024, submitted by the team constituted by the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA).... The condition of the detention camp is far from being satisfactory. Even basic amenities are lacking as can be seen from the detailed report submitted by the team constituted by the ASLSA.

"We direct the secretary in charge of the department concerned of Assam to immediately make a visit to the camp, hold a meeting with all the authorities concerned and ensure that all facilities are in place in the camp within a maximum period of one month from today," it said.