Kolkata HC deals major blow to government, orders family sent to Bangladesh to be brought back

Kolkata News: The Calcutta High Court has rejected the central government’s decision to send Sonali Bibi and Sweety Bibi along with their families from West Bengal’s Birbhum district to Bangladesh. According to media reports, the court has directed the central government to bring these six citizens, who were deported to Bangladesh, back to India within one month.

What did the court say?

The bench delivered this order on a petition filed by Bodu Sheikh. Bodu Sheikh claimed that his daughter Sonali Bibi, who was nine months pregnant, along with her husband Danish Sheikh and their five-year-old son, were detained in Delhi and sent to Bangladesh.

Danish Sheikh is a resident of Murarai area in Birbhum district. Similarly, Amir from Murarai filed another petition stating that his sister Sweety Bibi and her two children were also detained by Delhi Police and sent to Bangladesh.

Living in Delhi for two decades

The petitioners stated that the family had been working as daily wage laborers in Delhi’s Rohini Sector-26 for the past two decades. On June 18, A.N. Katju Marg Police detained them on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and sent them across the Bangladesh border on June 27. Bangladesh Police reportedly arrested them there.

Family expressed concern

The family also expressed concern that if Sonali gives birth in Bangladesh, questions could be raised about the child’s citizenship rights. Lawyers argued in court that both families were forcibly and illegally sent to Bangladesh. They submitted citizenship-related documents including PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, land documents, and voter IDs of parents and grandparents.

In an affidavit filed by the government, it was stated that these petitions are not maintainable in Calcutta High Court because petitions regarding illegal detention and deportation have already been filed in Delhi High Court. The Additional Solicitor General appearing for the center argued that Calcutta High Court has no jurisdiction in this matter since the people were detained in Delhi. He also stated that information about petitions filed in Delhi High Court was concealed when filing the petition in Calcutta High Court.

Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court is the oldest high court in India, established in 1862 during the British colonial era. Located in Kolkata, it functions as a court of record and has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Its grand Gothic building was designed by Walter Granville and modeled on the Cloth Hall in Ypres, Belgium.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a South Asian country formed in 1971 after a war of independence from Pakistan. Its history is deeply rooted in the Bengal region, with a rich cultural heritage spanning ancient kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, and British colonial rule. The country is renowned for its vibrant traditions, the world’s largest river delta, and the lush Sundarbans mangrove forest.

West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in eastern India with a rich cultural and historical heritage, most famously as the seat of the Bengali Renaissance—a period of social and cultural reform in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its capital, Kolkata, served as the capital of British India until 1911 and remains a vibrant hub of art, literature, and intellectual life. The state is also renowned for its distinctive traditions in music, cinema, and festivals, particularly the grand celebration of Durga Puja.

Birbhum district

Birbhum district is a culturally rich region in the Indian state of West Bengal, renowned as the home of the annual fair Poush Mela and Visva-Bharati University, founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Historically, it was part of the ancient Rarh region and later became a prominent center for the Baul folk tradition and the Bengal Renaissance. The district’s landscape is also noted for its laterite soil and the Kopai River, famously referred to as “Khoai” in Tagore’s literature.

Delhi

Delhi is India’s capital territory and a historic city that has served as the capital for several empires, including the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. It is home to numerous historic landmarks, such as the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, which reflect its long and layered history. Today, it is a bustling modern metropolis that continues to be the political and cultural heart of the country.

Murarai

I am unable to provide a summary for Murarai as I do not have sufficient information about it in my knowledge base. It appears to be a location, but I cannot confirm its specific historical or cultural significance. For accurate information, I would recommend consulting a reliable geographical or cultural resource.

Rohini Sector-26

Rohini Sector-26 is a residential neighborhood located in the Rohini sub-city, a major planned development area in North West Delhi, India. It was developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) starting in the 1980s as part of a larger project to provide organized housing and infrastructure for the city’s growing population. Today, it is a well-established locality known for its parks, community markets, and connectivity to other parts of the capital.

A.N. Katju Marg Police

I am unable to provide a summary for “A.N. Katju Marg Police” as it appears to refer to a local police station or police presence on a specific street (A.N. Katju Marg), rather than a widely recognized historical or cultural site. A.N. Katju Marg is a road in India, likely named after Dr. Kailas Nath Katju, a prominent Indian politician, but specific information about the police station’s history is not readily available.