Guwahati, Feb. 4 -- The Supreme Court strongly criticized the Assam government and the Centre for "indefinitely" detaining individuals declared as "foreigners" instead of deporting them.

The apex court directed the immediate deportation of 63 detainees within two weeks, questioning the state's delay in taking action.

A bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that indefinite detention in camps violates basic human rights.

The court dismissed Assam officials' argument that deportation was difficult due to unknown addresses in their home countries, asserting that "even without an address, you can deport them. It is for the other country to decide where they should go".

Justice Oka further added, "If the person is from Pakistan, ...