Complete Matia Detention Centre in 45 Days: Gauhati High Court

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has granted 45 days to the Government of Assam to complete the construction of the 'Detention Centre' at Matia in the Goalpara District. The Court also directed the State Government to shift all the detainees from the present location to the completed Detention Centre within the stipulated time.

The Bench of Justice Kalyan Rai Surana gave these directions to the State Government. The State Government had envisaged that it would complete the construction of the detention centre at Matia, Goalpara by September 2021. In this regard, the learned Advocate General submitted before the Court that "although he has received specific instruction from the authorities concerned of the Home Department that expeditious steps are being taken to complete the work within one month," yet as a matter of abundant caution, the learned Advocate General prayed for allowing six weeks to the State to complete the construction of the proposed detention centre and to shift the detenues of various detention centres in the proposed detention centre – now under construction – at Matia in Goalpara.

The learned Advocate General also submitted that as per the statement made in the affidavit filed on April 08, 2021, there were a total of 333 detenues in various detention centres of the State, adding that at present, there are about 177 detenues in various detention centres. He also submitted that majority of those remaining detenues have not been able to provide the necessary documents, which the State government is insisting on for their release.

Also Read:   Give reply in three weeks: Gauhati High Court to Centre & Dispur

Also watch: