In a significant humanitarian decision, the Supreme Court has ordered the Central government to facilitate the return of Sonali Khatoon, a Bangladeshi woman deported from India, along with her young son. The government confirmed its intention to bring them back, stating they would be monitored and provided with medical support. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta characterized the move as purely humanitarian, highlighting Khatoon’s past residence in Birbhum, India. A bench of the apex court acknowledged the Centre’s pledge to offer comprehensive medical care to Khatoon due to her pregnancy and ensure her child’s well-being. This directive came after the Union Government challenged a Calcutta High Court order that had previously mandated the family’s repatriation. The initial High Court ruling was prompted by a plea from Khatoon’s father, who asserted his daughter and son-in-law were Indian citizens and had been unjustly deported. While the father provided evidence of his own permanent residency and citizenship claims for his family, the Centre had contended that the deported individuals did not present sufficient proof of Indian nationality.
