The Delhi high court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government asking it to “find an amicable solution” to the plea of 151 Hindus from Pakistan who have sought Indian citizenship or asylum here on the ground that their lives are under grave threat in the neighbouring country.
Hearing a petition filed by Rakesh Ranjan of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, a bench of acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw directed that the Pakistanis, whose pilgrimage visas have expired, should not be deported till the disposal of their petition.
The court asked the home and external affairs ministries to file their response by February 29, the next date of hearing. “Let a notice be issued to the Centre (ministries of external affairs and home affairs) to find an amicable solution (to the petition) by February 29,” the bench said.
Senior advocate Bhim Singh, appearing for the petitioner, said 152 Pakistan nationals came to India in two batches on September 7 on valid visas granted by Indian authorities for pilgrimage here. One of them has died. “All the 151 people are illiterate. They are living in pathetic conditions in Pakistan. There is no opportunity for minorities in that country. Their plea must be accepted,” Mr Singh said.
As additional solicitor-general A.S. Chandhiok, appearing for the government, told the court that the Pakistani nationals should apply to the UNHCR to get refugee status, the counsel for the petitioner retorted that all 151 were of Indian origin as their forefathers were from Rajasthan.
“The Hindu nationals from Pakistan have sent a petition to the President, PM and NHRC seeking asylum/citizenship for the reasons that their lives are under grave threat in Pakistan. India is a signatory to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the present situation demands urgent attention of the government of India to provide due protection to the persons of minority community from Pakistan,” the petition said.