Who is the Indian Historian at Oxford Facing UK Deportation Threat Over India Stay?- wna24
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An Indian historian who has lived in the UK for over a decade is facing the risk of deportation by the UK Home Office. | Image:
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An Indian historian who has lived in the UK for over a decade is facing the risk of deportation by the UK Home Office. The highly qualified scholar has been threatened with deportation for exceeding the permitted number of days abroad while conducting research in India.
Who is the Indian Scholar Facing Deportation Threats?
Manikarnika Dutta, a 37-year-old historian, has conducted extensive research, including studying archives in Indian cities and participating in international conferences as part of her academic work. Her research is a key part of her commitments to the University of Oxford.
She also serves as an assistant professor at University College Dublin, Ireland. Before moving to the UK, she completed her MA in Modern History from the University of Calcutta.
Dutta moved to the UK in 2012 on a student visa for a master’s degree in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology at the University of Oxford, supported by the Wellcome Trust Masters studentship. She later secured a spouse visa as a dependent of her husband, Souvik Naha, a senior professor at the University of Glasgow.
Despite residing in South London with her spouse for 10 years, Dutta has been denied Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK for exceeding the allowed number of days spent overseas. The Home Office also cited that she does not have a “family life” in Britain as another reason for the rejection.
Despite her academic contributions, the Home Office has ordered her to leave the country. The review states that if Dutta does not leave voluntarily, she will face a 10-year ban from re-entering the UK and potential prosecution for overstaying.
Also Read: What’s On Ranjani Srinivasan’s CV? A Look Into Her Scholar’s Journey And Controversial Exit From The US
Why Is She Being Deported?
UK immigration rules state that a person cannot be outside the country for more than 548 days over a 10-year period. Dutta exceeded this limit, staying abroad for 691 days, which is 143 days over the allowed threshold.
Her legal team responded to the deportation threat, arguing that these research trips were not optional but essential for fulfilling her academic and institutional obligations. They emphasized that Dutta could not have completed her thesis or met the academic requirements of her institutions without them.
Despite her husband’s Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application being approved, Dutta’s was rejected.
The historian expressed shock, stating that after working at various universities in the UK for the past 12 years, she never expected to face deportation.
What Is the UK’s ILR Immigration Status?
The UK’s Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status grants individuals the right to live, work, and study in the country without restrictions. It is also a pathway to British citizenship and is sometimes referred to as “settlement.”
To be eligible for ILR, applicants must:
• Stay within absence limitations
• Pass the Life in the UK Test
• Demonstrate proficiency in English
• Maintain continuous residence under a visa category that leads to settlement
Dutta’s time spent outside the UK has affected her ILR eligibility.
A legal appeal has been filed against the Home Office’s decision. The Home Office has responded, stating that it will reevaluate its decision within three months. However, there is no guarantee that the ruling will be changed.
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