The Hindu : SC tells Centre to deport 14 Pak. prisoners

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 22, 2003

National

National

SC tells Centre to deport 14 Pak. prisoners

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI Aug. 21. Observing that Pakistani prisoners who had out-served their sentence here should be deported, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to pass appropriate orders under the Foreigners Act in respect of 14 such prisoners before September 2.

A Bench, comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice P. Venkatarama Reddi, made it clear to the Attorney-General, Soli Sorabjee, that the Centre must grant the prayer of some of the prisoners for deportation as they had served their sentence and were not detained under any law or statutory order.

When the Attorney-General sought time, the Bench said the Government should pass appropriate orders under the Foreigners Act after applying its mind to the case of each petitioner.

The Bench indicated that if proper orders were not passed, then the court would be constrained to direct their release.

In respect of nine prisoners detained in Rajasthan jails, the Bench asked the State Government to give in the form of a chart the status of each of them, as there was some discrepancy in the information furnished by the State and the one given by the petitioners.

It said those prisoners who have served their sentence and not detained under any statutory order, were entitled to be released.

Amicus curiae, K. Parasaran, today reiterated that those prisoners who had served their sentence could be taken out of the prisons and kept in separate camps till the two nations reached an agreement on the mode of exchange.

The Bench adjourned the proceedings to September 2.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National