Gauhati High Court Orders Compensation for Bengali-Origin Woman Deported to Bangladesh

The Gauhati High Court has made a significant ruling requiring the Assam government to provide compensation to the family of a Bengali-origin Muslim woman who was unlawfully deported to Bangladesh. This landmark decision comes after the court identified serious violations of deportation protocols by state authorities.

In a recent judgment delivered on Monday, the court ordered the Assam government to pay Rs 2 lakh to the son of Jahanara Begum, who was deemed a foreigner by a tribunal in 2019. Jahanara was forcibly deported to Bangladesh in June 2020, a move that attracted widespread criticism and raised questions about the fairness of the procedures followed by the authorities.

Furthermore, the court issued a similar directive concerning another case involving Mumtaz Begum, who also faced deportation under comparable circumstances. This ruling marks a historic moment as it is one of the first instances where the Gauhati High Court has held the state accountable for such actions, thus emphasizing the need for adherence to established deportation laws and the protection of individual rights.

These recent decisions from the Gauhati High Court shine a light on the ongoing concerns surrounding the treatment of individuals accused of being illegal immigrants in Assam. The state has been under scrutiny for its handling of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the categorization of residents based on their origins. This legal precedent sets a compelling argument for the necessity of due process and safeguards against unlawful deportations.

In a separate but related legal context, the Bombay High Court has denied an application to dismiss a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The case stems from remarks made by Gandhi in September 2018, in which he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “choron ke sardar” or “leader of thieves” during a discussion about the Rafale fighter jet deal. The court’s decision underscores the continued tension between political leaders and the legal system, especially in the context of the ongoing discourse on accountability and freedom of speech.

Source: scroll.in