Supreme Court Intervention Brings Pregnant Woman, Son Back to India on Humanitarian Grounds

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In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has ordered the Union government to bring back a pregnant woman and her eight-year-old son from Bangladesh, citing humanitarian grounds. Sunali Khatun, a domestic help from Delhi, was deported to Bangladesh in June along with her husband and son, but was allowed to return after the Supreme Court intervened. The court directed the Centre to provide immediate medical assistance to Sunali, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and allow her to temporarily reside in Birbhum district, West Bengal, near her family. The Chief Medical Officer of Birbhum has been directed to provide all medical facilities, including delivery-related amenities, free of cost. The court also ordered the Centre to verify whether action had been taken against Sunali's father, an Indian citizen, and to inquire into the matter following the principles of natural justice. The Supreme Court's decision came in response to appeals filed by the Centre against two orders of the Calcutta High Court, which had directed the Centre to bring back six persons deported to Bangladesh in June and give them a full opportunity to prove their Indian citizenship. The high court had criticized the rapid pace with which Delhi Police arrested the deportees and secured a deportation order without a proper hearing. The Union government had maintained that the deportation was warranted due to the failure to furnish valid identity proof. The Supreme Court clarified that its order was confined to humanitarian relief for Sunali and her child and does not prejudice the Centre's legal arguments. The status of the remaining four deportees will be taken up next week.