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A pregnant woman deported to Bangladesh is now being brought back after a dramatic Supreme Court intervention. As questions mount over identity checks and alleged unlawful detention, the case is taking an unexpected turn raising more questions than answers.
SC directs Centre to bring back deported Bangladeshi woman
New Delhi: In a significant humanitarian intervention, the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to facilitate the return of Sonali Khatoon, a pregnant woman recently deported to Bangladesh, along with her eight-year-old son.
The order follows the Centre’s assurance that both mother and child will be brought back and provided with comprehensive medical care and close monitoring upon their arrival in India.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the government had agreed to bring Sonali Khatoon and her child back “purely on humanitarian grounds.” Mehta clarified that although Khatoon is a Bangladeshi national, she had been residing in Birbhum district of West Bengal.
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He further stated that once the family returns, authorities will ensure they are placed under surveillance and receive the medical assistance required, particularly considering Khatoon’s pregnancy.
The apex court, while recording the Centre’s assurance, directed that Khatoon be given free medical treatment and all necessary facilities in light of her condition. It also instructed authorities to provide daily care and protection to her eight-year-old son.
The Court underscored that mother and child should not be separated, reiterating its humanitarian stance from earlier hearings.
The Supreme Court’s direction came while hearing a special leave petition filed by the Union Government, which challenged a Calcutta High Court ruling from September. The High Court had ordered the Centre to bring back the deported family after considering a plea filed by Khatoon’s father, Bhodu Sekh.
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Sekh argued that he is a permanent resident of West Bengal and claimed that both his daughter and son-in-law are Indian citizens by birth. He alleged that following an identity verification exercise prompted by a Home Ministry notification dated May 2, his daughter, grandson, and son-in-law were unlawfully detained and deported on June 26.
Despite the allegations, the Centre has maintained that the deported individuals were unable to furnish any documentary evidence to establish their Indian citizenship. The deportation, it asserted, was carried out in accordance with existing protocols.
With the Supreme Court’s latest order, the family is expected to be brought back to India shortly, pending formal procedures. The case continues to raise critical questions about identity verification drives, citizenship documentation, and humanitarian obligations within cross-border migration contexts.
