The Union Government on Wednesday (December 3, 2025) agreed to bring back a pregnant woman and her eight-year-old son deported to Bangladesh on solely “humanitarian grounds” following an intervention by the Supreme Court.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recorded in the order the Centre’s assurance that the woman, Sonali Khatoon, would be provided free care and the necessary facilities, taking into consideration her medical condition. The court further asked the authorities to provide day-to-day care of the child too.
The order came in a special leave petition filed by the Union Government against a Calcutta High Court decision in September to bring back the deportees. The High Court order was based on a petition filed by the woman’s father, Bhodu Sekh. The previous hearing had seen the apex court urge the Centre to bring back the heavily pregnant woman and her eight-year-old son on humanitarian grounds. The court said the mother and child ought not to be separated.
‘Waiting for her to walk through the door’: father of woman pushed into Bangladesh
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Union government, stressed that the mother and child would be brought back via official channels solely on humanitarian grounds, and the gesture should not prejudice the case of the Union government in favour of the merits of the deportation order. Mr. Mehta said the government did not want to set a bad precedent.
