The Supreme Court has criticized the Union government for total inaction in dealing with prolonged incarceration of several foreign nationals in Indian jails despite having completed their sentences. The court directed the government to repatriate them within a month.

A bench of the apex court noted that the prolonged detention of foreign nationals was violative of the constitutional right of the life and liberty granted under Article 21 to every person in the country, including the foreign nationals. It said infraction of this right cannot be condoned by the courts.

The court directed that foreign nationals who have served out their sentence and whose nationality has been established and otherwise not required in any other offences in the country must be deported as early as possible.

There are 365 foreign nationals lodged in different jails including in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh who have completed their sentences ranging from one to 10 years.