Supreme Court Steps In on Srinagar Deportation Plea
The Supreme Court has taken up the case of Ahmed Tariq Butt, a resident of Srinagar who, along with his family of six, is facing deportation orders in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Butt has approached the apex court asserting that he and his family are Indian nationals, possessing valid passports and Aadhaar cards as proof. He stated that his family had been residing in Mirpur, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, before relocating to Srinagar in stages, with his father moving in 1997 and the rest of the family joining him by 2000.
Verification Ordered, Deportation Halted Temporarily
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh has directed the central government to conduct a thorough verification of the documents and the facts presented by Butt. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the court has issued a clear instruction that no coercive action, including deportation, should be initiated against Butt and his family members until a considered decision is made regarding their nationality status.
Family Faced Imminent Deportation, Claims Plea
In his plea to the Supreme Court, Butt detailed that his father, mother, sister, and a younger brother were briefly detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and were subsequently taken towards the India-Pakistan border. He argued that they were facing imminent deportation despite his insistence that they are Indian citizens.
Recourse Available in High Court if Dissatisfied
The Supreme Court also clarified that its interim order to halt coercive action should not be considered a precedent for other cases. Furthermore, the bench informed Ahmed Tariq Butt that should he be dissatisfied with the final decision rendered by the authorities, he retains the right to approach the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for further legal remedies.