Overview

• On August 14, a bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi declined to grant interim relief against the detention and deportation of Bengali-speaking migrant workers accused of entering India illegally.
• The justices warned that failing to detain suspected illegal entrants could allow them to disappear and complicate enforcement under the Foreigners Act.
• Notices were issued to the Centre and nine governments—including West Bengal, Delhi and Maharashtra—on a PIL by the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board challenging alleged unlawful detentions and torture.
• Petitioners argue that a May circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs has been used to target Bengali-speaking workers, leading to panic, harassment and informal pushbacks across multiple states.
• The bench proposed establishing a nodal verification system or state-issued identity cards to swiftly confirm bona fide migrant status and prevent wrongful detention.