New Delhi, Aug. 14 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the Centre and nine States, including the Union Territory of Delhi, to a plea challenging the alleged detention and torture of Indian migrant workers, while the State authorities search for Bangladeshi immigrants.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre and the governments of nine States and UTs after hearing submissions by Advocate Prashant Bhushan.

Bhushan argued that the said detention is illegal and not permitted under the Foreigners Act and sought the Court to intervene. The Court opined that a mechanism is required to enable the authorities to check details such as the place of origin (pre-immigration) and the place of...