Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered the return of two deported families from Birbhum, West Bengal, overturning the Centre’s decision to send them to Bangladesh. The court directed that Sonali Bibi, Sweety Bibi, and four other family members, including three children, be brought back within four weeks. The central government’s appeal for a temporary stay was rejected.
The order followed habeas corpus petitions filed by Bhodu Sheikh and Amir Khan, claiming their relatives were unlawfully deported despite holding valid citizenship documents, including voter IDs, land ownership papers, and birth certificates of the children. Sonali Bibi, nine months pregnant, and her family had been detained by Delhi police in June and reportedly handed over to Bangladesh authorities.
The families, long-term daily wage workers in Delhi, feared for the citizenship status of newborns born in Bangladesh. Court hearings revealed the Centre’s position that the Calcutta High Court lacked jurisdiction, citing earlier petitions in Delhi. The government also noted that the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Delhi, was acting under Ministry of Home Affairs instructions regarding unauthorized foreign nationals.
Reacting to the verdict, Trinamool Congress MP Samirul Islam accused the BJP of pursuing an “anti-Bengali agenda” and praised the court’s decision as a victory for Bengal. He condemned personal attacks on him for supporting the families and vowed to continue opposing policies he termed harmful to the poor and Bengali residents.
The high court’s ruling highlights the judicial safeguards against unlawful deportation and emphasizes the importance of proper verification procedures before enforcing such measures, particularly involving pregnant women and children.
