Kochi: The high court has directed the state govt to furnish an affidavit detailing the steps taken to make the newly constructed transit home for foreign nationals at Alappuzha operational.
The court adjourned the matter to Nov 20. The court was informed that a new transit home had been constructed at Alappuzha for foreign nationals who had entered the country illegally or had been released on bail subject to restrictions on their movement. A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar issued the directive while considering a suo motu petition concerning the premature release of eligible prisoners, initiated at the instance of the Supreme Court, along with a report submitted by KeLSA on overcrowding at the transit home in Kollam, which is used for the temporary accommodation of foreign nationals. Staff had also been appointed for the facility. However, financial sanction was required to make the home operational. It was further submitted that the social justice department had sought funds for the facility, but the request was still pending. Taking note of the submissions, the court directed the home secretary to look into the matter and make the transit home operational at the earliest. Subsequently, it sought an affidavit detailing the steps taken in this regard, including the allocation of funds sought by the social justice department.