The Department of Immigration (DoI) has decided to deport four Bhutanese refugees, who were recently deported from the US to Nepal, back to Bhutan after they pay a fine of Rs 5,000 each. The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the authorities to resolve the matter within 60 days.
Govinda Rijal, the Director-General of the DoI, stated that the decision was made last Friday. The four individuals—Ashish Subedi, Roshan Tamang, Santosh Darji, and Ashok Gurung—have been instructed to submit their passports and air tickets for deportation.
"We have asked them to pay the fine and submit the necessary documents for deportation. The court had directed us to complete the process within 60 days, and we have made the decision within the stipulated time," Rijal said. "Now, they can either comply with our decision or explore other legal options."
In addition to the fine, the refugees must also pay visa fees and an overstay penalty of US$ 8 per day. If they disagree with the department’s decision, they can appeal in court. Currently, the four individuals are staying at a refugee camp in Jhapa.
The Department of Immigration has also written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging necessary diplomatic efforts for their repatriation. The US had deported them to Bhutan on March 28, but Bhutanese authorities confiscated their documents and sent them back to Nepal.
They were later detained by Nepali police on March 29 and April 1 for entering the country without proper documentation. After filing a habeas corpus petition, the Supreme Court ordered their release within 28 days of detention but mandated that the case be resolved within two months.
Although freed, they have been restricted to the refugee camp. Now, they must either accept the decision and arrange their travel documents or challenge the deportation order in court.
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