‘Who Decides Who’s Bangladeshi’: Bengal Alleges ‘Alarming Deportation’ Of Bengali Speakers From Delhi, Centre Denies
The West Bengal government raised concerns in Calcutta High Court about alleged deportations of Bengali speakers from Delhi to Bangladesh. Habeas corpus petitions were filed, but the Centre denied deportations based solely on language.
The West Bengal government has raised serious concerns before the Calcutta High Court over the alleged deportation of Bengali-speaking individuals from Delhi to Bangladesh. During a hearing on Wednesday, Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, representing the State, described the development as “alarming,” stating that individuals from the Birbhum district were being sent back merely for speaking Bengali.
Appearing before the Division Bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra, Bandyopadhyay argued, “This is a family from Birbhum district… Who will decide if someone is Bangladeshi? Not the police, but the appropriate authority… All these cases, I have gone through the reports, it is very alarming”, Bar and Bench reported.
Habeas Corpus Petitions Filed Over Alleged Deportations, Centre Flags Omission
The case pertains to two habeas corpus petitions filed by the families of those allegedly deported. Bandyopadhyay urged the Court to direct the Union government to disclose how many people had been deported to Bangladesh. A habeas corpus petition is a legal remedy seeking a court order to produce a person who is missing or has been illegally detained.
The petitioners’ claims were challenged by the Centre’s counsel, who stated that no deportations had taken place merely on the basis of individuals speaking Bengali. He further informed the Court that the affected families had already moved the Delhi High Court, a fact allegedly not disclosed in the petitions before the Calcutta High Court.
As per news agency PTI, Additional Solicitor General Asok Kumar Chakrabarti, appearing for the Centre, explained that a habeas corpus petition had indeed been filed in the Delhi High Court. He noted that after it was brought to the Delhi court’s notice that the individuals had been deported via orders from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), the petitioners withdrew the habeas plea and filed a new one challenging the FRRO’s decision.
“Don’t play tricks on us”: High Court Warns Petitioners Over Concealed Facts
Taking serious note of this omission, the Bench reprimanded the petitioners’ counsel, stating, “Don’t play tricks on us”, as per Bar and Bench. The High Court stressed that judicial proceedings must not be misused and transparency must be maintained.
Centre, State Asked to Submit Affidavits
The Calcutta High Court directed the Centre to file an affidavit by July 28, enclosing all documents and records relating to the matter, especially those filed before the Delhi High Court. The petitioners were instructed to file their reply by August 4, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on August 6.
Additionally, the Bench verbally asked the Centre’s lawyer to verify the claims that Bengali-speaking individuals were being questioned about their nationality in different parts of the country. However, no formal direction was issued by the court on that specific allegation, PTI reported.
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