Guwahati, July 18 -- The Supreme Court has granted the Assam government two weeks to respond to petitions challenging orders that declared five women as illegal foreigners. The extension was allowed after the state's counsel sought additional time to file counter-affidavits in the matter.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in its July 16 order, directed the Assam government to submit its vakalatnama and counter-affidavits within two weeks.

"As prayed, two weeks is granted to the counsel for the respondent-State of Assam to file vakalatnama and counter affidavit(s) in all the cases. List after two weeks," the bench said.

The latest order follows the Supreme Court's June 5 decision to stay the deportation of the f...