Indian historian at Oxford University faces deportation from UK: 'You must now leave'

A distinguished Indian historian from the University of Oxford is facing deportation from UK after allegedly exceeding the permitted number of days abroad while conducting academic research in India.

Manikarnika Dutta, 37, an assistant professor at University College Dublin’s School of History, specializes in studying historic Indian archives.

However, her extended research trips outside UK have put her immigration status in jeopardy.

The UK Home Office has rejected her application for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), sayingthat she has exceeded the allowable time abroad under the country's immigration rules.

Under the UK immigration policy, individuals applying for ILR based on long-term residency must not have spent more than 548 days outside the country within a ten-year period.

However, according to The Guardian, Dutta has spent a total of 691 days abroad, leading to the rejection of her application.

ILR grants individuals the right to live, work and study in UK without time restrictions and serves as a pathway to British citizenship. The Home Office also ruled against Dutta on the grounds that she does not have a family life in Britain—despite living in south London with her husband, Dr. Souvik Naha, a fellow academic, for over a decade.

Dutta, who has been associated with Oxford and Bristol universities, was shocked after receiving the notice. “I have been employed at different universities in the UK and I’ve lived here for 12 years. A large part of my adult life has been lived in the UK since I came to the University of Oxford to do my master’s,” she told The Observer.

“I never thought something like this would happen to me,” she added.

Her lawyer argued that Dutta’s research trips to India were not optional but integral to her academic responsibilities. “Without these visits, she would not have been able to complete her thesis or maintain her visa status."

Dutta first arrived in UK in 2012 on a student visa and later transitioned to a spouse visa following her marriage. While her husband’s ILR application was approved, hers was denied.

After applying for an administrative review, Dutta was informed by the Home Office that its decision stood. “You must now leave the United Kingdom. If you don’t leave voluntarily, you may be subject to a re-entry ban of 10 years and prosecuted for overstaying,” read the official notice.

Her lawyer has since launched a legal challenge against the Home Office’s ruling.

The Home Office is set to reconsider its decision within the next three months.

Dutta’s husband, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow, spoke about the emotional strain the ordeal has placed on them. “This decision from the Home Office has been terribly stressful for both of us. It has taken a psychological toll. I sometimes give lectures about these issues and have read articles about people affected, but never thought it would happen to us.”