Bangladeshi woman deported from the country will be brought back to India; learn how the central government agreed:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to bring back Sonali Khatun, a 9-month pregnant woman, and her 8-year-old child from Bangladesh. The Supreme Court allowed the pregnant woman and her 8-year-old child, who were deported from Bangladesh months ago, to enter India on "humanitarian grounds." The court directed the government to provide free medical facilities to the woman in view of her pregnancy and also to take care of her son.

'One has to bow down in the interest of humanity'

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the state sometimes has to "bow down in the interest of humanity." The court asked the central government to make all necessary arrangements for the woman and her child upon their return. The bench noted the statement by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, that the competent authority had agreed to allow the woman and her child to enter the country on humanitarian grounds and that they would be kept under observation.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the central government challenging the September 26 order of the Calcutta High Court. The High Court had overturned the central government's decision to deport Sonali Khatun and her son to Bangladesh, terming the action "illegal." The Supreme Court ordered that they be ultimately returned to Delhi, where they were apprehended and deported to Bangladesh.

What did Solicitor General Tushar Mehta say?

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the woman's father, said it would be appropriate to bring the woman and her child to their home district of Birbhum in West Bengal, where her father lives. They urged the court that there are other people in Bangladesh, including Sonali's husband, who need to be brought back to India. For this, Tushar Mehta can seek further instructions from the Centre. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he would challenge their claim of being Indian citizens. He said he believes they are Bangladeshi citizens. The Central government is allowing the woman and her child to come to India only on humanitarian grounds.

What is the whole matter?

Sonali's father, Bhodu Sheikh, alleged that the family, who had been working as daily wage laborers in Sector 26, Delhi's Rohini area, for over two decades, were detained by police on June 18 on suspicion of being Bangladeshi and later deported across the border on June 27. Bhodu Sheikh is fighting a legal battle to bring back his daughter, Sonali, her husband, Danish Sheikh, and their 8-year-old son, who were deported to Bangladesh earlier this year.

Sonali Khatoon claims she is the daughter of Bhodu Sheikh, an Indian citizen. Justice Bagchi stated that Bhodu Sheikh's citizenship is not in question, and that if Sonali proves she is his daughter, that would be sufficient to establish her Indian citizenship. She and her children would also be Indian citizens under the Citizenship Act. The Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing in the case for December 10.