Srinagar Family Facing Deportation To Pakistan Claims Indian Citizenship, Supreme Court Halts Immediate Action

On Friday (2 May), the Supreme Court requested the Centre to verify the allegations made by a man who, along with his family of six, received deportation orders after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Express reported. 

A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh instructed the authorities to verify the documents and other relevant details, and further stated, “Let an appropriate decision be taken at the earliest, though we are not stating any timeline."

“In the peculiar facts, authorities may not take coercive action till an appropriate decision is taken,” the court stated, adding that the petitioner may approach the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh if dissatisfied with the final decision.  

Butt told the Court that while his father first relocated to Srinagar in 1997, the rest of the family joined him in 2000. He said the children were enrolled in a private school and have lived in India since.

Following this, the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) in Srinagar issued notices to Butt and his family, alleging that they had entered India on a visa and were required to exit after its expiration.

The plea contests the claim, stating that the notices were “unjustified and baseless,” and maintains that the family should be recognised as Indian citizens who have lawfully resided in the country for decades.

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted any deportation or related coercive measures against the Srinagar family until their citizenship status is conclusively determined by the authorities.

The government stated that any Pakistani national who failed to depart by the deadline would face arrest, prosecution, and possible imprisonment or fines, an earlier Business Today report said.