Australian authorities tried hand over asylum seekers to India

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that Australian authorities attempted to transfer more than 150 asylum seekers to India before taking them to a Western Australian detention centre.

Immigration minister Scott Morrison (AAP)

The 157 asylum seekers had reportedly left Pondicherry in India in mid-June, before being intercepted by Australian authorities around June 29.

Speaking to ABC’s 7.30 program, Mr Morrison said authorities had attempted to pass responsibility of the asylum seekers to India but “that was not accepted by India”.

India also dismissed the option of processing the asylum seekers on the high seas and Mr Morrison said no discussions had been held with Sri Lankan authorities.

“There was no discussion with the Government of Sri Lanka about people on that voyage going back to Sri Lanka,” he said.

The group are currently at the centre of a High Court case, which has heard that the asylum seekers were detained on the high seas behind locked doors in windowless rooms.