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Supreme Court Stays Deportation of Four Assam Women Declared Foreigners by Tribunal

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
  • Jun 06, 2026
  • 106

The  Supreme Court of India has ordered an interim stay on the deportation of four women from Assam who were earlier declared foreigners by a Foreigners Tribunal. The decision provides temporary relief while the matter is examined further by the court.

The petitioners include Basiram Nessa, Musstt Nureza Begum, Saleha Khatun, and Sarbhanu Begum.

Notices Issued to Assam Government, Centre, and ECI

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and V. Mohan issued notices to the:

  • Government of assam

  •  Government of india

  • Commission of India (eci)

The court has directed all respondents to file their replies within four weeks.

Case Background: Saleha Khatun Detention and Citizenship Claim

Among the petitioners, 50-year-old Saleha Khatun, an illiterate woman, has been detained at the Goalpara detention centre since March 2.

She moved the Supreme Court after the Foreigners Tribunal in Darrang declared her a foreign national, a decision later upheld by the Gauhati High Court.

Petition Claims Indian Citizenship Through Historical Records

Khatun stated that she is the daughter of Ahsan Ali and the late Korpuljan, whose names appear in pre-1971 electoral rolls of Nagabandha village in Nagaon district, Assam.

She submitted multiple documents to support her claim, including:

  • NRC legacy records

  • Voter lists

  • Gaonbura and Gram Panchayat certificates

  • Family electoral documents

  • Oral witness statements

She argued that these records clearly establish her family lineage and Indian citizenship.

Tribunal Findings and Grounds for Rejection

In its order dated December 13, 2025, the Foreigners Tribunal rejected her claim citing discrepancies in:

  • Age and family details

  • Supporting documents

  • Verification of issuing authorities

The tribunal also refused to accept linkage certificates since the issuing officials were not examined.

A key reason for rejection was variation in her recorded name across documents, including:

  • Surbhanu

  • Sorbhanu

  • Saharbhanu

A mismatch in her husband’s name in electoral records was also noted.

Supreme Court Challenge

Khatun has challenged the tribunal and High Court rulings before the Supreme Court, arguing that her documentary evidence was not properly considered and key materials were overlooked.

The case continues to be significant in the context of citizenship verification and NRC-related disputes in Assam.

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