SC halts deportation of family to Pakistan, asks authorities to not take 'coercive action'

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the deportation of a Bengaluru man and his five family members to Pakistan , directing the Centre not to take any coercive action against them until a final decision is made on their citizenship status.

The family claims to be Indian nationals and holds Indian passports and Aadhaar cards. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant heard the petitioner and his counsel before instructing the government to verify the family’s documents to determine the validity of their Indian citizenship .

The Court also allowed the petitioner to approach the high court of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh if dissatisfied with the government’s eventual decision.

This development comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 people dead, mostly tourists, and several injured.

On April 25, Union home minister Amit Shah directed state governments to ensure that no Pakistani national remains in the country past the departure deadline.

In response to the terror attack, the Centre also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, and ordered all Pakistani nationals on short-term visas to leave India.

Meanwhile, 224 Indian and Pakistani nationals with No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) visas recently crossed over through the Attari border.