Oxford historian faces UK deportation over research trips to India

A distinguished historian from the University of Oxford is facing deportation from the UK after the Home Office ruled she had spent too much time abroad conducting research —despite her work requiring access to historic Indian archives in India.

Manikarnika Dutta, (37) has been told she must leave Britain because she exceeded the Home Office’s limit on days spent outside the country for those applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Over 10 years, applicants are allowed a maximum of 548 days abroad; Dutta spent 691 days outside the UK while carrying out academic research and attending international conferences.

The decision has sparked concerns over the impact of immigration rules on academic freedom, as other scholars have faced similar challenges. Dutta, who now serves as an assistant professor at University College Dublin’s School of History, has lived in the UK for 12 years and previously held research positions at Oxford and Bristol.

She resides in Welling, South London, with her husband, Dr. Souvik Naha, a senior lecturer in imperial and post-colonial history at the University of Glasgow.

“I was shocked when I got an email saying I have to leave,” The Observer quoted Dutta as saying. “I have been employed at different universities in the UK and have lived here since coming to Oxford for my master’s. A large part of my adult life has been here. I never thought something like this would happen to me.”

Dutta first arrived in the UK in September 2012 on a student visa before later obtaining a spouse visa as a dependent of her husband, who qualified under the UK’s “global talent” route.

According to her lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, her overseas research trips were not discretionary but essential to fulfilling academic and institutional commitments. “Had she not undertaken these trips, she would not have been able to complete her thesis, meet her institutions’ academic requirements, or maintain her visa status,” Kandiah said.

Dutta’s husband’s ILR application was approved, but hers was rejected. She sought an administrative review, but the Home Office upheld its decision, stating: “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.”

Since receiving the rejection, Dutta has received support from academic colleagues. Naha described the ordeal as “terribly stressful,” adding, “I sometimes give lectures on these issues and have read about people affected, but I never thought it would happen to us.”

Kandiah has launched a legal challenge against the decision, and the Home Office has agreed to reconsider the case within three months. However, Dutta remains in limbo, uncertain whether the original ruling will stand.

“My client’s case exemplifies how such policies severely undermine the UK’s reputation and ability to attract and retain global academic talent — particularly when strengthening international relations is crucial,” Kandiah said.

“If the UK truly seeks to position itself as a leader in academia and innovation, it must foster an environment that welcomes top scholars. Without this, British universities will continue to lose highly skilled PhD researchers in whom they have invested years of resources and funding.”

“It is longstanding government policy that we do not routinely comment on individual cases,” a Home Office spokesperson was quoted as saying.