Centre Flags ‘Systematic Infiltration’ Amid Plea on Detention of Bengali Migrants

 The Union government on Friday told the Supreme Court that India is facing “systematic infiltration” by illegal migrants, with organised agents allegedly aiding their entry. The submission came during a hearing on a plea alleging that Bengali-speaking Muslim migrants are being detained and, in some cases, deported without due process.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta underscored the need to prioritise national security. “India is not the world’s capital for illegal immigrants,” Mehta told a bench led by Justice Surya Kant.

He clarified that detentions or deportations cannot be based solely on language, rejecting the claim that speaking Bengali is the reason behind arrests. Mehta also questioned why organisations, instead of affected individuals, were filing such petitions.

The bench sought clarity on the Centre’s stance, asking, “Are claims of language being used to determine citizenship correct?” The court noted that the matter involves two critical aspects — national security and the country’s cultural fabric — but emphasised that any action must adhere to due process.

The petition, filed by the West Bengal Migrant Workers’ Welfare Board and its chairperson, MP Sameerul Islam, alleges that Bengali-speaking Muslim workers are being arbitrarily detained in states such as Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, argued that several individuals were deported to Bangladesh without proper verification. He contended that nationality cannot be decided summarily and that such deportations violate constitutional guarantees and international law. Bhushan cited instances where Indian citizens with valid documents were mistakenly deported, including a case where a woman was sent to Bangladesh but later arrested there as an Indian national after verification.

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, seeking a detailed response. It further directed that habeas corpus petitions pending before the Calcutta High Court — filed by families challenging detentions — should be heard without delay. The High Court has been instructed to prioritise verification of the citizenship status of the individuals concerned.