New Delhi, Aug 21: The Supreme Court today directed release and deportation of those Pakistani prisoners who have served out their sentence in India and are not detained under any orders passed under the Foreigners Act. The court gave Union of India time till September 2 to pass appropriate orders under the Foreigners Act.
The order was passed by a bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice P V Reddi, who were dealing with cases of 14 Pakistani prisoners lodged in different prisons in India. While some of the prisoners are serving sentences, others had complained that they have served out their sentences as far back as 1992.
The court said, "As far as those petitioners are concerned who have served out their sentences and not detained under any law or under any statutory order, they are entitled to be released." "They have sought deportation. Their prayer must be granted," the bench ordered.
However, when the attorney general sought time to ascertain the situation, the court granted time till September 2 for passing "appropriate orders" under the Foreigners Act after applying mind to the case of each petitioner separately. Bureau Report