Calcutta High Court asks Bengal govt how many people crossed Indo-Bangla border in 1970s

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked the West Bengal government how many people crossed the India-Bangladesh border in the 1970s and whether it is practically possible to deport all of them, while hearing a petition challenging the detention and deportation of a man alleged to be a Bangladeshi national.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya asked Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar how many people had crossed the border in the 1970s and whether it was practically possible to "send them back the whole hog".

The judge also observed that one should visit the districts bordering Bangladesh to understand the ground realities.


The court was hearing a petition filed by Sahidul Shekh challenging orders passed by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for his detention and deportation.

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During the hearing, the court questioned the state on the basis for identifying Shekh as a Bangladeshi national and asked why he had been detained for over two months without following due process.

Justice Bhattacharyya also questioned the basis of the deportation order, particularly when it was allegedly based on statements made by certain persons whom Shekh claimed were his family members.

The court asked how Shekh could possess Aadhaar and voter identity cards if he was a Bangladeshi national.

The state's lawyer submitted that the documents had allegedly been obtained using forged certificates issued by a local panchayat.

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He said the FRRO had passed the detention order on the basis of a report submitted by the officer-in-charge of Raninagar police station in Murshidabad district.

According to the state, Shekh was initially detained by Raninagar police on August 8 on suspicion of being an illegal migrant, and the FRRO affirmed the detention on August 10.

The state counsel said the Centre had issued guidelines on May 2, 2026, for identifying illegally staying Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas and facilitating their deportation, and that a special drive was underway to identify illegal immigrants.

He submitted that possession of Aadhaar, voter identity and PAN cards obtained on the basis of allegedly forged credentials created suspicion and could constitute grounds for deportation. Failure to produce necessary documents before the authorities could also be a ground for deportation, he said.

The state's lawyer further submitted that persons whom Shekh claimed to be his family members had told the authorities that they did not know him.

The court, however, asked whether the alleged failure of the family members to support Shekh's claim established that he was a Bangladeshi national.

"Opportunity should be given to the petitioner to explain his position," the court observed.

Shekh's lawyer submitted that his client had been detained at a holding centre and was yet to be deported as the petition challenging the orders was pending before the high court.

The counsel for the state submitted that the matter should be heard by another bench having the appropriate jurisdiction.

Justice Bhattacharyya accordingly released the petition from his court and directed that it be placed before the appropriate bench on October 14.

The court also directed that the deportation order against Shekh would remain in abeyance until the matter is heard by the appropriate bench.