179 B’deshi prisoners ‘released’ but still in prisons waiting for repatriation
Times of India | 6 February 2025
Kolkata: The number of Bangladeshi released prisoners languishing in correctional homes across the state has come down to 179 — as of Jan 1, 2024 — compared to 495 in 2011. According to the West Bengal Correctional Services data, there were 212 released foreign nationals or ‘jankhalash' — 136 men and 76 women — in correctional homes in the state as of Jan 1, 2024, out of which 179 were from Bangladesh.
Most of these foreigners were lodged in Dum Dum Central Correctional Home (171), while the rest were in Berhampore CCH (24), Jalpaiguri CCH (16), and Presidency CCH (1).
On Jan 30, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to submit a report on the number of illegal migrants present in various correctional homes after being convicted under the Foreigners Act. A division bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan asked the Centre: "Once an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh is convicted for the alleged offence, is it not established that he is not a citizen of India? What is the idea of keeping hundreds of such illegal immigrants in detention camps/correctional homes for an indefinite period?" The court also asked the Bengal govt to file a reply on whether they have any role to play in the litigation and asked the Centre what was expected of the state govt in such matters.
The SC's contention was whether an illegal migrant — convicted and sentenced under Section 14A(b) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 — be deported to his/her country or be kept for an indefinite period in correctional homes in India.
The case dates back to May 2, 2011, when an NGO, Common Health Human Rights Initiative, wrote to the chief justice of Calcutta High Court regarding the plight of Bangladeshi nationals languishing in correctional homes in the state despite completing their prescribed sentences. In the letter, the NGO cited that records issued by the Directorate of Correctional Services as of Feb 1, 2011, showed that out of 858 Bangladeshis lodged in various correction facilities, 495 (421 men and 74 women) were released upon completion of their sentence and were awaiting repatriation.
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