The Indian central government has informed its Supreme Court that it will repatriate a group of individuals who were illegally "pushed" into Bangladesh last year, in order to officially verify their citizenship claims.
Representing the Union government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant on Friday (May 22) that the repatriation process would be completed within eight to ten days.
"The government will bring them back and thereafter examine their status. Depending on the outcome, steps will be taken accordingly," Mehta submitted, adding that the decision was made considering the unique circumstances of the case and should not be treated as a legal precedent.
The top court has scheduled the next hearing for July.
The Border Push-In and Arrests in Bangladesh
The case revolves around six people, including a woman named Sunali Khatun, her eight-year-old child, and another woman named Sweety Bibi with her two children. Their families, who work as daily wage earners in Delhi, claim they are Indian citizens by birth and hold permanent residency in West Bengal.
Despite this, Delhi police detained them on June 18 last year on suspicion of being undocumented Bangladeshi nationals. On June 27, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed the group across the Kurigram border into Bangladesh.
Upon entering Bangladesh, local law enforcement arrested them for illegal trespass. They were sent to Chapainawabganj jail in August. After spending nearly four months behind bars, a local court granted them bail on humanitarian grounds on December 2 and handed them over to a local guarantor, suggesting the issue be resolved through diplomatic channels.
Following the court's advice, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) initiated flag meetings and diplomatic communication with Indian authorities.
A Protracted Legal Battle in India
While the individuals were stranded in Bangladesh, their families launched a legal battle in India. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Sanjay Hegde represented Sunali’s father, Bhodu Sekh.
On September 26, 2025, the Calcutta High Court declared the deportation "illegal." The High Court observed that the authorities acted in "hot haste" and violated standard deportation protocols. It directed the central government to bring the deported individuals back within a month.
The central government challenged this ruling in the Supreme Court. During the ensuing legal process, the Supreme Court had temporarily permitted only Sunali and her child to re-enter India on humanitarian grounds in December, leaving the others behind.
Friday's submission by the Solicitor General finally paves the way for the return of the remaining individuals, bringing relief to the petitioners who have been fighting for their families' return for nearly a year.
