CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has closed a writ petition filed by S. Nalini Srikaran, who is in jail after being found guilty in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, challenging the rejection of the visa application of her daughter, Megara.

Justice Prabha Sridevan closed the plea, after Assistant Solicitor-General of India P. Wilson furnished a Ministry of External Affairs communication stating that Ms. Megara had overstayed her earlier visa period by a month. "Now they have sought student visa for one year. The Government examined the matter and did not recommend the grant of student visa," it said. Recording the details, the judge closed the writ petition, but said the order would not stand in the way of the petitioner agitating her rights in a manner known to law.

In her petition, Ms. Nalini said her 14-year-old daughter was an Indian citizen by virtue of Section 3(b) of the Citizenship Act 1955.

Pointing out that Ms. Megara was forced to go to Sri Lanka after both her parents were awarded death sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Ms. Nalini said an emergency Sri Lankan passport was obtained for her daughter under such compelling situation. It is well settled that holding the passport of a foreign country is not conclusive evidence that a person is not a citizen of India, she said, adding, "We intend to make separate application to get Indian passport for our daughter."

Armed conflict

Referring to the deteriorating armed conflict between Sri Lankan Army and the ethnic minority Tamil group in the island-nation, Ms. Nalini said Ms. Megara was unable to attend classes as all schools and colleges in the conflict zone were closed. Her life too is in danger, she said.

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