Clarify visa status of foreign Tablighis, SC tells Centre

New Delhi, June 29

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to clarify if the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued separate orders for cancellation of visas of foreign nationals who took part in the Tablighi congregation here in March. A number of foreigners were blacklisted for 10 years for their alleged involvement in Tablighi activities.

A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar posted the petitions filed by foreign nationals for hearing on July 2. The Bench said if visas of the foreign nationals were cancelled then the government should explain why they were still in India. But if their visas were not cancelled, it’s a different situation, it added.

On behalf of the petitioners, senior advocate CU Singh said blacklisting note was a general order for over 900 foreign nationals. Noting that the MHA notification said the decision had to be taken on case-to-case basis, the Bench sought to know if such orders were passed and served on the foreigners in question. — TNS