Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the Union government to weigh, on humanitarian grounds, bringing back four deportees from Bangladesh, including Sunali Khatun’s husband.
- The court noted that Khatun and her eight-year-old son have been brought back to India and that she is receiving medical care at her father’s home in Birbhum, West Bengal.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to a same-day Times of India article as narrative-building, and the bench said it is immune to publicity while cautioning against running commentary on sub judice matters.
- The government said it will verify documents for the remaining deportees before deciding on further returns, with any humanitarian steps taken without prejudice to its legal position.
- The case stems from a Calcutta High Court finding that the June deportations violated Home Ministry protocols, and the Supreme Court set the next hearing for January 6, 2026.