Woman declared foreigner, sent to Bangladesh without hearing, HC orders Rs 2 lakh

NEW DELHI: The Gauhati high court has directed the Assam government to pay Rs 2 lakh as interim compensation to the husband of a woman who was sent to Bangladesh after being declared a foreigner, without being informed about the tribunal's decision or given an opportunity to challenge it. The court also ordered authorities to provide declared foreigners a free copy of tribunal opinions before taking them into custody. The order was passed on September 3, 2026.Why did Mumtaz Begum's husband approach the high court?According to the court order, Mumtaz Begum had been declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal, 4th Nagaon at Juria, in 2019. She challenged the decision before the high court, which set it aside and directed the tribunal to take a fresh decision.Begum appeared before the tribunal on May 30, 2026, along with her lawyer.