Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Gauhati High Court questions timing of opinion behind woman’s removal to Bangladesh
Mumtaz Begum, from Assam’s Nagaon district, was sent to Bangladesh in June after a Foreigners’ Tribunal declared her a foreigner.
The Gauhati High Court had earlier set aside a previous opinion against her and ordered the tribunal to reconsider her case.
She appeared before the tribunal again on May 30 and was taken into custody.
The court is now checking whether the new opinion had been finalised before officials detained her.
It says it may presume the opinion was not ready in time if the state cannot establish when it was finalised.
The court also ordered the central government to investigate her whereabouts and help bring her back; the inquiry is still ongoing.
Her son says the family does not know where she is, and another woman from Nagaon, Jahanara Begum, has also been reported missing after being sent across the border.
The Gauhati High Court is questioning whether a Foreigners’ Tribunal opinion declaring Mumtaz Begum a foreigner was finalised before she was taken into custody.
The court warned that it would presume the opinion was not ready in time unless Assam establishes when it was finalised.
Mumtaz was sent to Bangladesh in June, and her whereabouts have remained unknown to her family, according to her son.
The court has directed the Ministry of External Affairs to investigate and help facilitate her return.
The court is hearing her case alongside that of another Nagaon woman, Jahanara Begum, who has also been reported missing after being sent across the border.
- Who
- Mumtaz Begum, a woman from Nagaon, Assam. The Gauhati High Court is examining her case.
- What
- The court is questioning whether the tribunal’s opinion declaring her a foreigner was finalised before she was taken into custody and sent to Bangladesh.
- When
- She was taken into custody on May 30 and sent to Bangladesh in the early hours of June 14. The court issued its latest order on October 7.
- Where
- Mumtaz was sent from the Kalaincherra area of Cachar, Assam, to Bangladesh.
- Why
- The court is examining whether the opinion was ready before officials acted on it and whether Mumtaz had a reasonable opportunity to challenge it.
Mumtaz Begum’s son, Momruz Ali
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Where Mumtaz is
Mumtaz Begum’s son, Momruz Ali
Ali said the family had no idea where Mumtaz was.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Sarma said Mumtaz was safe and in regular contact with Ali.
The court shall presume that the opinion...was not made ready within the appropriate time, i.e., prior to the taking into custody
reasonable opportunity
breaking
The Gauhati High Court set aside an earlier tribunal opinion declaring Mumtaz a foreigner and sent the case back for fresh consideration.
Mumtaz appeared before the tribunal, which issued a fresh opinion declaring her a foreigner, and she was taken into custody.
Mumtaz was moved through holding facilities in Assam and handed over to the BSF.
The BSF told the court Mumtaz was sent to Bangladesh in the early hours from the Kalaincherra area of Cachar.
The high court ordered an inquiry into Mumtaz’s whereabouts and directed the Ministry of External Affairs to trace her and facilitate her return.
The high court said it would presume the tribunal opinion was not ready in time unless the state established when it was finalised.
- Woman
- Mumtaz Begum, from Nagaon
- Tribunal opinion
- Dated May 30
- Handed to BSF
- June 13
- Sent to Bangladesh
- Early hours of June 14, from Kalaincherra, Cachar
- Court order
- October 7
- Other woman reported missing
- Jahanara Begum
Sources
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