Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Guwahati: The Supreme Court has intervened to block the deportation of two women currently held at the Goalpara Detention Centre in Assam. A vacation bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and V. Mohana issued the stay on Friday, ensuring the detainees remain in the country until at least July 16.
Saleha Khatun and Sarbhanu Begum have been in custody since March 2026 after being labeled foreigners by a local tribunal. Both women argue that their citizenship claims were unfairly dismissed by the tribunal and later upheld by the Gauhati High Court due to minor spelling discrepancies in their records. Their legal counsel maintains that they provided valid documentary and oral evidence, including electoral rolls and NRC legacy data, to prove their ancestry predates 1971.
The Court is reviewing petitions from Khatun, Begum, and two other women, Basiran Nessa and Musst Nuzera Begum, who all challenge the validity of their foreigner status. During the proceedings, the bench addressed concerns regarding the risk of immediate removal from the country. Regarding the two detainees, the judges stated, "If they are in detention, they will not be deported till the next date."
The Union Government has been issued notices to provide a formal response to the petitions. The Supreme Court expects to further examine the evidence and the handling of the tribunal cases during the upcoming July hearing.
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