New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court on Wednesday intervened in a contentious deportation case, permitting a pregnant woman and her young son—both reportedly pushed into Bangladesh earlier this year—to re-enter India on humanitarian grounds.
Top court steps in, asks Bengal to ensure medical aid
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, sitting with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, directed the West Bengal government to take custody of the eight-year-old child and ensure that the woman, Sunali Khatun, receives full medical assistance. The court specifically asked the Birbhum district Chief Medical Officer to oversee her treatment and safety.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, informed the Bench that the “competent authority” had agreed to permit their entry into India as an exceptional humanitarian gesture. He clarified that the two would remain under surveillance once they cross the border.
Return to Delhi planned
The court noted that Sunali and her child would eventually be moved back to Delhi, the city from which they were initially detained before being taken to the border.
Lawyers seek relief for others still in Bangladesh
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Sanjay Hegde, representing the petitioners, urged the court to also consider the cases of other family members, including Sunali’s husband, who they said had also been forced across the border. They requested the Centre to seek instructions on facilitating their return.
Mehta resisted the broader plea, asserting that the government disputes their claims of being Indian citizens. He maintained that the individuals in question were Bangladeshi nationals, and that the humanitarian concession granted to Sunali and her son should not be interpreted as recognition of their citizenship.
Family alleges forced removal
According to Sunali’s father, the family had lived in Delhi’s Rohini Sector 26 for more than twenty years, working as daily-wage labourers. He alleged that the police detained them on June 18 on suspicion of being undocumented foreigners and later escorted them to the border, where they were pushed into Bangladesh on June 27.
Citizenship verification under spotlight
The case has reignited debate over deportation protocols and the treatment of long-time residents flagged as suspected illegal immigrants. With the Supreme Court now overseeing the matter, further scrutiny is expected on how authorities verify citizenship and handle contested removals.
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