Supreme Court Stays Deportation of Bengaluru Man Claiming Indian Nationality
The Supreme Court has put a hold on the government’s deportation order concerning Ahmed Tariq Butt, an employee of Accenture in Bengaluru, and his family. Butt approached the court asserting that despite holding valid Indian passports and Aadhaar cards, he and his six family members were instructed to leave the country. This action comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions following the Pahalgam incident.
Butt informed the court that he arrived in India in 1997 with his father, who possessed a Pakistani passport at the time. Upon reaching Srinagar, Butt stated he surrendered his Pakistani passport to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and subsequently obtained an Indian passport. He further added that the remaining members of his family arrived in Srinagar in 2000, and each of them also acquired Indian citizenship and passports. Butt mentioned that he and his siblings received their education at a private school in the city.
Despite possessing this documentation, including Aadhaar cards for all family members, Butt stated that a recent order from the Home Ministry directed them to leave the country. He contended that the notice incorrectly claimed they had entered India on visas and had overstayed their permitted time.
The Supreme Court has directed authorities to verify the submitted documents and has instructed that no forceful measures be taken against Mr. Butt until this verification process is complete. The court also suggested that Mr. Butt could seek further legal recourse through the High Court. While the government’s representative raised objections, the Supreme Court acknowledged the “human element” involved in the matter. The court also explicitly stated that its decision in this specific case should not be considered as a precedent for other similar situations. The Solicitor General, representing the government, contested the order, but the bench emphasized the need to consider the individual circumstances presented in this case.