SC grants relief from deportation to six of family till doc verification

The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim protection to a family of six from deportation to Pakistan, allowing them time to remain in the country till authorities verify their claims of surrendering their Pakistani passport and possessing Indian identity documents.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI:

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh without fixing any specific timeline asked the authorities to verify the identity documents such as passports, Aadhaar card, pan card, etc., of the family and other relevant facts, which are brought to their notice.

"In the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, authorities may not take coercive action till an appropriate decision is taken. If petitioners are dissatisfied by the final decision, they can approach J&K&L HC. Order not to be treated as precedent," the bench said.

The order came days after the central government issued a directive on April 25 saying that visas granted to Pakistani nationals stood revoked with effect from April 27.