GUWAHATI, Nov 15: The Gauhati High Court said 1,16,946 people declared foreigners in Assam had not been detained or deported as of June 30, 2026, and described the situation as “deeply concerning”.
A division bench of Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Mridul Kumar Kalita made the observation on November 10 while dismissing a petition filed by Hamida Begum.
An affidavit filed by the Assam government said 1,16,946 persons declared foreigners in the state had not been detained or deported by June 30, 2026.
Begum, a resident of Charaideo district, was declared an illegal foreigner by a Foreigners Tribunal in December 2018. The Gauhati High Court dismissed her challenge to the order in October 2020.
The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed her petition in November 2025 and her review petition in March 2026.
Begum was held at the transit camp in Goalpara and was released on bail after three years in detention under a Supreme Court order. She regularly appeared at the concerned police station after her release but was detained again during one such appearance.
Her lawyer sought bail again. The High Court said she had exhausted all available legal remedies against the Foreigners Tribunal order and that the state government was taking steps to deport her. It dismissed her petition as not maintainable.
